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Feathered  Game 

of  the 

Northeast 


By 
WALTER   H.   RICH 


WITH  ILLUSTRATIONS  BY  THE  AUTHOR 


NEW  YORK 

THOMAS  Y.   CROWELL  &  CO. 

PUBLISHERS 


j^-UNiVERS^ 


^WDRAW* 


Copyright,  1907, 

By  Thomas  Y.  Cbowell  &  Co. 

Published  September,   1907. 


TO  MY  WIFE, 


MOST    PATIENT    OF     READERS 

AND     GENTLEST     OF     CRITICS 

THIS  BOOK    IS    AFFECTIONATELY    DEDICATED. 


SK 
313 

1101 


PREFACE. 

The  writer  is  aware  that  there  are  many  ex- 
cellent bird  books,  but  while  most  of  these  are 
of  wider  scope,  either  covering  the  broad  field 
of  general  ornithology  or  dealing  with  the  en- 
tire bird  life  of  a  large  area  of  country,  there 
are  few  which  treat  solely  of  the  groups  of  spe- 
cial interest  to  sportsmen, — especially  to  the 
sportsmen  of  New  England.  This  work  is  de- 
voted to  the  so-called  "game  birds,"  and  while 
the  author's  intent  has  been  to  write  of  them 
to  the  man  whose  nature  study  has  been  con- 
ducted in  the  open  and  mostly  over  a  gunbarrel, 
it  is  his  hope  that  all  lovers  of  the  birds  and  the 
out-of-doors,  and  even  the  scientific  ornitholo- 
gist as  well,  may  find  his  page  of  interest  and 
profit. 

Treating  the  subject  from  the  standpoint  of 
fair  sportsmanship,  the  writer  has  endeavored 
to  discountenance  the  reckless  and  needless 
slaughter  by  those  whose  ambition  it  is  to  make 
a  record  killing,  and  he  asks  of  the  thoughtful 

v 


vi  PREFACE 

sportsman,  who  beats  the  covert  in  search  of 
health  and  sport,  and  of  the  working  naturalist, 
that  they  meet  on  this  common  ground  and  work 
loyally  together  in  an  effort  to  save  our  wild  life 
from  the  extermination  which  threatens.  The 
protection  of  our  wild  creatures,  particularly 
of  our  game  birds,  seems  to  be  the  most  im- 
portant question  in  the  sportsman's  outlook 
upon  the  future — a  question  calling  for  much 
foresight  and  no  little  self-denial  in  its  proper 
solution.  The  present  generation  is  feeling  the 
results  of  that  selfishness  of  the  past,  so  well 
summed  up  in  its  two  stock  arguments:  "0, 
well,  if  I  don't  kill  them  someone  else  will,  and 
the  game  will  last  my  time,  anyhow!" 

Will  it,  you  who  listen  to  our  old  men's  tales 
of  shooting  days  in  the  not-so-long-ago?  Will 
it,  you  who  have  gunned  the  marsh?  Where 
are  the  plover  flocks  which  once  swept  across  its 
wide  expanse?  Will  it,  market  hunter  and 
slayer  of  the  wild  pigeon?  Will  it,  chicken  hun- 
ter, you  who  left  your  dead  to  rot  in  August's 
sun?    Will  it,  hide  hunter  of  the  buffalo  days? 

If  the  reader  can  look  with  indifference  upon 
the  works  of  these,  let  him  permit  things  to  take 
their  ruinous  course, — let  him  do  nothing  to  re- 


PREFACE  vii 

strict  any  man  in  killing  when,  where,  or  how 
he  will.  But  if  he  wishes  to  save  our  weaker 
brethren  of  the  wilderness,  that  they  may  fur- 
nish to  those  who  come  after  us  the  joys  they 
afford  to-day,  he  will  lend  his  best  effort,  when 
someone  with  the  interests  of  our  game  supply 
at  heart  tries  to  put  off  the  opening  day  of  a 
shooting  season  until  the  birds  have  become  full- 
fledged,  or  he  will  strengthen  the  hands  of  those 
who  endeavor  to  stop  spring  shooting,  or  to 
close  our  markets  to  the  sale  of  game.  These 
things  I  say  to  the  great  brotherhood  of  sports- 
men. 

To  the  individual  gunner  this  admonition 
may  not  come  amiss :  do  not,  even  though  with- 
in your  legal  right,  continue  to  kill  after  a  fair 
bag  has  been  made.  It  would  be  a  wise  plan 
for  each  and  all  of  us  who  carry  a  gun  to  paste 
in  our  shooting  hats  cards  bearing  the  motto : 

" Don't  forget  to  leave  enough  for  seed." 

And  now,  reader,  this  book  is  committed  to 
you  in  the  hope  that  you  may  find  herein  some- 
thing to  remind  you  pleasantly  of  your  own 
exploits  on  wooded  hillside,  or  'mid  rustling 
reeds,  or  on  sunlit  seas,  and  with  the  wish  that 


viii  PREFACE 

you  may  forgive  its  many  short-comings,  "Of 
which,"  as  honest  Izaak  says,  "if  thou  be  a 
severe,  sour-complexioned  man,  then  I  here  dis- 
allow thee  to  be  a  competent  judge." 

Walter  H.  Rich. 

Falmouth,  Maine,  June  first,  1907. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Spruce  Grouse 1 

Heath  Hen 9 

Ruffed  Grouse 16 

Willow  Grouse 51 

Bob  White 57 

Beetlehead  Plover 70 

Golden  Plover 78 

Kildeer  Plover 83 

Semipalmated  Plover 85 

Piping  Plover 88 

Belted  Piping  Plover 89 

Wilson's  Plover 90 

American  Oyster  Catcher 91 

Turnstone 94 

Avocet 97 

Stilt 99 

Red  Phalarope 101 

Northern  Phalarope 102 

Wilson's  Phalarope 105 

American  Woodcock 108 

Wilson's  Snipe 130 

dowitcher 145 

ix 


x  TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Stilt  Sandpiper 149 

Baird's  Sandpiper 151 

The  "Peeps" 153 

Grassbird 159 

Purple  Sandpiper 163 

Red-backed  Sandpiper 166 

Sanderling 168 

Robin  Snipe 170 

Great  Marbled  Godwit 172 

Hudsonian  Godwit 174 

Willet 176 

Winter  Yellow-legs 177 

Summer  Yellow-legs 186 

Solitary  Sandpiper 188 

Spotted  Sandpiper 193 

Eupf 199 

Upland  Plover 201 

Buff-breasted  Sandpiper 214 

Sickle-billed  Curlew 215 

Hudsonian  Curlew 218 

Esquimaux  Curlew 220 

King  Rail 223 

Clapper  Rail 227 

Virginia  Rail 229 

Sora  Rail 231 

Yellow  Rail 237 

Black  Rail 239 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS  xi 

PAGE 

European  Corn  Crake 240 

Purple  Gallinule 241 

Florida  Gallinule 242 

Coot 245 

Greater  Snow  Goose 248 

White-fronted  Goose 251 

Canada  Goose 252 

Hutchins'  Goose 269 

Common  Brant 270 

Mallard  Duck 274 

Black  Duck 279 

Gadwall 291 

Widgeon 295 

Green-winged  Teal 300 

Blue-winged  Teal 304 

Shoveler 308 

Pintail 312 

Wood  Duck 318 

Red-head 326 

Canvasback 331 

Greater  Bluebill 334 

Lesser  Bluebill 337 

Ring-necked  Duck 340 

Whistler 341 

Rocky  Mountain  Garrot 351 

bufflehead 354 

Oldsquaw        357 


xii  TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Harlequin 365 

Labrador  Duck 368 

American  Eider 371 

King  Eider 387 

American  Scoter 390 

White- winged  Coot 400 

Patch-head  Coot 403 

American  Merganser 404 

Red-breasted  Merganser 408 

Hooded  Merganser 415 

Ruddy  Duck 418 

Index 425 


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LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 

Wood  Duck Colored  Frontispiece 

Outline  Drawing  Showing  Ar- 
rangement of  Plumage     .      .   Opposite  page 

Spruce  Grouse 5 

Heath  Hen "           "13 

Ruffed  Grouse "25 

' '  Trembling     with     suppressed 
joy  and  eagerness,  he  turns, ' ' 

ETC "               "35 

Ruffed  Grouse  Shooting     .     .  "45 

Willow  Grouse "53 

Bob  White "           "63 

Beetlehead  Plover    ....  73 

Golden  Plover "81 

Kildeer  Plover "84 

Sempalmated  Plover  —  Piping 

Plover "87 

Wilson's  Plover    .....  "           "       91 

Oyster  Catcher "93 

Turnstone "          "95 

Avocet "           "98 

Stilt "           "100 

Northern  Phalarope — Wilson  's 

Phalarope — Red  Phalarope  .  "     105 

American  Woodcock  ....  "     113 

xiii 


xiv         LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


"He   Sees   his   Dog,  one   Foot 

Raised,  etc Opposite 

Snipe 

A  Good  Snipe  Country  . 

Brownback 

Stilt     Sandpiper    and    Baird's 
Sandpiper 

Semipalmated,  Least  and  White- 
rumped  Sandpipers  .... 

Grassbird 

Purple     Sandpiper     and     Red- 
backed  Sandpiper    .... 

Sanderling 

Robin   Snipe 

Marbled  Godwit 

Hudsonian  Godwit      .... 

Willet 

Winter  Yellow-legs 

Summer  Yellow-legs 

Solitary  Sandpiper     .... 

Spotted  Sandpiper      .... 

Ruff 

Upland  Plover 

Buff-breasted  Sandpiper 

Sickle-billed  Curlew 

Hudsonian  Curlew — Esquimaux 
Curlew 

King  Rail 


page  121 
135 
141 
147 

151 

155 
161 

165 
169 
171 
173 
175 
177 
183 
187 
191 
195 
199 
207 
214 
217 

220 
224 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


xv 


Clapper  Rail 

Opposite  page  227 

Virginia  Rail         

'     229 

Sora  Rail 

«     233 

Yellow  Rail  and  Black  Rail  . 

1     237 

'     239 

Purple  Gallinule 

1     241 

Florida  Gallinule     .... 

'     243 

Mud  Hen.     Coot         .... 

"     247 

"     249 

White-fronted  Goose 

'     251 

Canada  Goose 

'     261 

1     270 

«     274 

'     279 

'     291 

'     295 

Green-winged  Teal    .... 

'     301 

Blue-winged  Teal      .... 

'     305 

'     309 

'     315 

'     327 

'     331 

Greater  Bluebill       .... 

'     334 

'     337 

Ring-necked  Duck      .... 

'     340 

<     343 

A  Winter   Morning  with   the 

Whistlers 

Oppc 

site  pa 

ge  347 

XVI 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


Barrow's  Golden-eye      ...          " 

"     351 

Bupplehead            " 

'     354 

OLDSQUAW  —  SPRING   PLUMAGE       .               ' ' 

1     357 

OLDSQUAW  —  WINTER    PLUMAGE     .               ' '               ' 

1     361 

Harlequin  Duck " 

•     365 

Labrador  Duck " 

1     368 

American  Eider " 

'     375 

Sea  Duck  Shooting  over  decoys          " 

<     381 

King  Eider "        .  ' 

'     387 

Butter-billed  Coot     ....           "           ' 

1     393 

White- winged  Coot    ....          "          ' 

'     400 

Patch-head  Coot "          ' 

'     403 

American  Merganser       ...           " 

1     407 

Red-breasted  Merganser       .                 "           ' 

'     411 

Hooded  Merganser      ....           "           ' 

1     415 

Euddy  Duck "          * 

<     421 

7 


FEATHERED  GAME   OF 
THE  NORTHEAST 

THE  SPRUCE  GROUSE. 

(Canachites  canadensis.) 

The  Spruce  Grouse,  Canada  Grouse,  Swamp 
Partridge,  or  Black  Grouse, — for  by  all  these 
titles  this  bird  is  known, — is  a  dweller  on  our 
North  American  continent  from  Newfoundland 
to  the  Columbia  river,  thence  northward  into 
Alaska,  and  from  the  northern  portions  of  the 
United  States  to  the  limits  of  the  spruce  forests 
of  the  sub- Arctic  lands,  thus  leaving  only  north- 
western Montana,  Oregon,  Washington,  and 
northward  along  the  coast  through  British  Co- 
lumbia for  its  cousin,  Franklin's  Grouse.  Little 
they  care  for  cold  or  snow.  They  seem  to  be 
resident  at  all  points  of  their  habitat.  The 
range  of  the  Spruce  Grouse  extends  much  far- 
ther into  the  north  than  that  of  the  ruffed 
grouse.  It  is  somewhat  smaller  than  this  aristo- 
cratic relative,  and  in  its  shape  is  nearer  to  the 

1 


2  FEATHERED  GAME 

quails  and  the  ptarmigans  than  to  the  other 
grouse. 

Their  homes  are  in  the  boggy  portions  of  the 
woods — swampy  ground  carpeted  in  summer 
with  moss  and  trailing  vines,  deep-shaded  with 
spruce  and  hemlock — where  quaking  bogs  and 
mire  over  which  they  pass  with  light  and  nimble 
steps  make  the  footing  of  the  pursuer  treacher- 
ous in  the  extreme — almost  impassable  haunts 
at  any  other  than  the  winter  season.  In  the 
summer  months  they  feed  upon  the  insects, 
wild  fruits  and  berries  of  the  woods  and  at  this 
season  their  flesh  can  scarcely  be  distinguished 
from  that  of  the  ruffed  grouse  in  flavor.  In- 
deed, upon  examination  of  the  barrels  of  "birch 
partridges"  which  were  annually  destroyed  in 
the  Maine  woods  by  illegal  snaring,  (now  hap- 
pily almost  a  thing  of  the  past  because  our  mar- 
kets are  closed  to  the  sale  of  game),  many 
Spruce  Grouse  were  to  be  found,  having  been 
passed  off  upon  the  dealer  as  ruffed  grouse,  and 
as  this  better  bird  were  they  sold  to  inexperi- 
enced buyers.  But  with  the  coming  of  the  snow 
the  days  of  plenty  have  passed  and  there  is  lit- 
tle left  for  them  but  the  leaves  and  buds  of  the 
various  evergreens  which  make  the  forests  of 


SPRUCE  GROUSE  3 

the  northern  swamps.  At  this  time  their  flesh 
becomes  very  dark  and  to  most  palates  is  un- 
pleasantly bitter.  It  is  but  justice  to  say,  how- 
ever, that  under  like  conditions  the  flesh  of  the 
ruffed  grouse  is  little  better.  There  are  those 
who  claim  to  prefer  this  flavor — this  strong  re- 
minder of  the  spruce  tops.  If,  then,  your 
friends  should  speak  ill  of  the  table  qualities  of 
either  of  these  fowls,  be  sure  that  they  have 
been  experimenting  with  some  winter  bird 
whose  unchanging  and  long-continued  fare  of 
spruce  buds  has  not  been  the  "sweet  savour" 
best  suiting  your  epicure's  taste.  Let  us  con- 
fine ourselves,  then,  to  the  legitimate  hunting 
season  and  we  shall  have  no  such  bitter  gastro- 
nomical  disappointments.  I  have  seen  men  eat 
Spruce  Grouse  twice  a  day  for  a  week  in  Octo- 
ber with  relish  unabated  at  the  end  of  the  time, 
nor  did  they  think  themselves  much  abused 
thereby. 

As  is  the  habit  of  the  family  their  nests  are 
built  upon  the  ground ;  a  tiny  hollow  lined  with 
dry  leaves  and  moss,  protected  from  the 
weather  and  shielded  from  view  by  the  over- 
hanging boughs  of  spruce  or  fir  tree.  They  lay 
from  ten  to  eighteen  eggs, — commonly  nearer 


4  FEATHERED  GAME 

the  lesser  number, — rather  pointed  at  the 
smaller  end,  of  a  dull,  creamy-buff  color,  and 
splashed  and  freckled  with  brown  or  chestnut 
spots.  As  a  rule  the  nesting  season  in  Maine 
is  about  the  first  of  April,  but  grows  later  as 
we  go  farther  north. 

As  has  been  before  stated,  the  appearance 
of  this  bird  is  like  the  quail  rather  than  the 
grouse,  and  in  its  gait  and  movements  it  is  most 
graceful  and  attractive.  The  prevailing  color 
is  a  dusky  bluish  gray,  with  minute  barrings 
and  mottlings  of  black.  The  breast  is  black 
with  lines  of  white  feathers  across  it  low  down, 
and  other  white  feathers  in  greater  numbers  ap- 
pearing on  the  flanks  and  under  the  tail.  On 
the  throat  a  black  patch  bordered  by  a  white 
band  extending  downward  from  each  eye  and 
meeting  under  the  throat.  An  area  of  naked 
skin,  bright  vermilion,  above  each  eye.  Tail 
black,  each  feather  terminated  by  a  spot  of 
deep  orange  yellow.  Feet  feathered  to  the 
toes.  Length  sixteen  to  seventeen  inches ;  thus 
the  male. 

The  female  is  more  like  the  ruffed  grouse  in 
appearance,  the  general  tone  of  coloring  being 
a  rufous  brown  with  crossbars  and  mottlings  of 


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SPRUCE  GROUSE  5 

dusky  brown  and  black,  though  there  are  some 
traces  of  the  male  bird's  color  plan  also,  such 
as  the  white  feathering  on  the  flanks  and  below, 
but  there  should  be  no  difficulty  in  distinguish- 
ing one  from  the  other  at  a  glance,  since,  aside 
from  its  smaller  size,  the  Spruce  Partridge 
lacks  the  "Elizabethan  ruff"  on  the  neck,  has 
no  crest  and  is  feathered  to  the  toes. 

In  southern  New  England  this  bird  is  prob- 
ably now  never  taken,  though  in  the  old  days  it 
was  seen  occasionally.  In  Maine  the  Spruce 
Grouse  is  very  rare  in  the  southern  parts,  be- 
ing occasionally  found  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Umbagog  lake  in  Oxford  county,  growing  more 
common  as  we  approach  the  northern  lumber 
regions  and  on  the  wooded  slopes  of  the  moun- 
tains, but  still  nowhere  in  the  State  equally 
numerous  with  the  ruffed  grouse.  They  be- 
come more  abundant  as  we  go  farther  north. 

This  bird  is  vastly  inferior  to  the  ruffed 
grouse  in  the  qualities  for  which  the  latter  is 
so  highly  prized  by  sportsmen,  being  neither  so 
crafty,  strong  and  fleet  of  wing,  nor,  in  a  word, 
so  "game." 

The  northern  lumbermen  speak  slightingly 
of  its  intellect,  giving  it  the  complimentary  title 


6  FEATHERED  GAME 

of  "fool  hen,"  because,  being  unacquainted 
with  the  kindly  ways  of  man  in  dealing  with 
his  weaker  brethren,  when  an  intruder  comes 
into  its  seldom-troubled  domains  it  will  only  fly 
up  into  the  nearest  tree  to  sit  craning  its  neck 
and  staring  while  the  clumsiest  bungler  that 
ever  pulled  trigger  may  shoot  it  as  it  perches, 
— even  staying  upon  its  roost  to  scold  and  strut 
with  its  tail  cocked  over  its  back  if  the  marks- 
man's first  trial  should  be  unsuccessful.  Thus 
does  it  meet  the  usual  fate  of  trustful  inno- 
cence. It  is  well  known  that  in  distant  regions 
where  little  hunted  the  ruffed  grouse  will  some- 
times do  the  same,  though  I  think  one  would 
meet  with  small  success  in  an  attempt  to  take 
the  "birch  partridge"  with  a  slipnoose  on  the 
end  of  a  stick,  as  may  often  be  done  with  these 
birds.  When  the  Spruce  Partridge  has  become 
better  acquainted  with  the  gunners,  and  later 
generations  of  hunted  grouse  have  dodged  shot 
among  the  tree  tops  until  a  wholesome  fear  of 
man  has  been  implanted  in  their  breasts,  they 
will  not  fail  to  meet  the  demands  of  the  most 
exacting  sportsman  or  they  are  no  true  grouse. 
A  friend  tells  me  of  a  scene  he  came  upon  in 
Flagstaff,  "in  the  Dead  River  country,"  where  a 


SPRUCE  GROUSE  7 

little  schoolliouse  liad  been  crowded  up  against 
the  wall  of  the  woods.  A  knot  of  squealing 
youngsters,  wild  with  excitement,  were  danc- 
ing around  two  of  the  older  boys  who,  armed 
with  a  Fourth  of  July  cannon  made  of  a  .45 
calibre  shell  wired  upon  a  block  of  wood,  were 
trying  to  down  a  cock  spruce  grouse  which  was 
scolding  and  strutting  on  a  bough  about  ten 
feet  from  the  ground.  Never  did  a  gun  crew 
work  more  earnestly.  Powder,  turned  into  the 
arm  with  trembling  hands,  was  wadded  with 
long  moss  from  the  nearest  tree — the  projectile 
the  first  pebble  that  would  fit  its  muzzle.  Then 
one  gunner  gripped  the  block  tightly  and  aimed 
while  the  other  scratched  a  match  and  applied  it 
to  the  touchhole.  Bang!  Wild  screeches  and 
uproar!  But  Mr.  Grouse  merely  gave  his  tail 
another  flirt  and  continued  to  strut.  Now,  any 
boy  present  could  have  "fixed  him"  at  the  first 
attempt  with  a  rock,  but  no, — they  were  sports- 
men raised  in  a  sportsman's  country  and  they 
were  going  to  shoot  him  or  lose  him  like  gentle- 
men and  thus  be  true  to  Dead  River  traditions. 
So  the  war  went  on  until  a  lucky  shot  tumbled 
the  bird  from  his  perch  minus  half  his  head. 
Because  of  the  distance  of  their  haunts  from 


8  FEATHERED  GAME 

civilization  these,  with  the  ptarmigans,  will 
probably  be  the  last  of  our  grouse  to  be  exter- 
minated. At  present  their  only  disturber  is  the 
hunter  of  big  game  who  may  want  a  showy 
"bird  piece"  for  his  dining  room.  It  is  a  very 
pretty  fowl  for  such  a  purpose,  too,  but  the 
sportsman  rarely  kills  more  than  the  pair 
needed,  for  at  that  season  their  table  qualities 
are  not  such  as  to  induce  him  to  put  in  the  last 
day  of  his  stay  in  camp  in  shooting  the  heads 
off  Spruce  Grouse  to  supply  a  toothsome  mor- 
sel for  friends  at  home,  as  he  generally  does 
with  the  ruffed  grouse. 

During  a  snowstorm  the  Spruce  Grouse  usu- 
ally flies  up  into  the  densest  clump  of  spruce  or 
fir  trees  in  the  neighborhood,  and  under  their 
thick,  arching  branches,  snow-laden  and  bend- 
ing, he  finds  shelter  from  the  weather  and  food 
in  abundance.  He  may  not  leave  the  tree  for 
several  days  if  undisturbed  and  the  storm  con- 
tinues. The  question  of  temperature  troubles 
him  little,  and  with  his  wants  all  provided  for, 
the  Spruce  Grouse  is  more  independent  in  his 
mode  of  life  than  any  of  his  feathered  neighbors, 
for  when  other  birds  are  scurrying  about  for 
something  to  eat  and  perhaps  going  hungry, 


THE  HEATH  HEN  9 

this  gentleman  finds  plenty  of  food  in  his  shel- 
ter, and  sits  in  comfort,  "at  ease  in  his  own 
inn." 

The  Franklin's  Grouse,  before  mentioned,  is 
very  near  to  this  typical  bird,  the  main  differ- 
ence being  the  lack  of  the  terminal  spots  of 
orange  in  the  tail  of  the  male;  in  his  case  the 
tail  is  either  plain  black  or  narrowly  tipped 
with  white,  and  the  tips  of  the  upper  tail  cov- 
erts in  both  male  and  female  are  white.  The 
lady  also  has  whitish  instead  of  orange  tips  to 
the  tail  feathers.  If  otherwise  different  there 
is  rather  less  of  white  in  the  rest  of  the  plumage 
of  this  than  in  the  common  species. 

In  choice  of  food,  habits  and  mode  of  life  the 
two  species  are  in  perfect  accord. 

THE  HEATH  HEN 

(Tympanuchus  cupido.) 

It  is  probable  that  in  former  times  the 
Prairie  Chicken  flourished  in  many  places 
suitable  for  its  occupancy  from  the  Atlantic  to 
its  present  home,  but  now  the  broken  and  scat- 
tered remnants  of  those  once  thriving  communi- 
ties are  to  be  found  only  in  very  small  num- 


10  FEATHERED  GAME 

bers  and  in  a  few  widely  separated  localities. 
In  most  of  these  places  their  value  is  recognized 
and  by  rigid  protection  it  is  hoped  to  save  this 
interesting  eastern  race  from  extinction. 

Unfortunately,  from  various  causes,  their  in- 
crease (if  increase  there  be)  is  very  slow,  and 
it  will  be  long  before  their  numbers  will  war- 
rant anything  less  than  complete  protection.  I 
greatly  fear  that  this  eastern  race  is  doomed. 

Eastward  of  the  present  range  of  the  Prairie 
Chicken  probably  the  only  colony  remaining  is 
that  of  Martha's  Vineyard,  though  possibly  a 
few  may  be  left  on  the  eastern  end  of  Long 
Island.  In  both  places  they  are  rigidly  pro- 
tected by  law,  but  there  seems  to  be  a  complete 
understanding  among  the  natives  dwelling  near 
the  breeding  grounds  which  permits  any  one  of 
them  to  gather  Heath  Hens  in  perfect  security, 
and  makes  the  whole  community  a  nest  of  spies 
upon  the  stranger  who  may  covet  a  specimen. 

The  market  price  of  the  Heath  Hen's  skin  at 
the  dealer's  shop  runs  from  twenty-five  to  forty 
dollars,  though  of  course,  no  dealer  dares  quote 
the  same  in  his  published  lists.  The  remunera- 
tion to  the  gunner  as  his  portion  of  the  spoil  is 


THE  HEATH  HEN  11 

usually  fixed  at  five  dollars,  which  leaves  a  fair 
margin  of  profit  for  the  merchant. 

In  some  of  the  places  where  the  eastern  race 
once  lived  birds  from  the  prairies  have  been  re- 
leased, but  little  has  been  said  concerning  them 
and  the  result  of  the  experiment  is  not  gener- 
ally known.  Probably  they  have  not  increased 
to  the  extent  of  becoming  a  pest  to  the  farmers 
on  whose  lands  they  dwell ! 

By  no  means  the  equal  of  the  ruffed  grouse 
(to  the  writer's  thinking  the  standard  of  game 
bird  excellence)  in  game  qualities  either  of 
brain  or  wing  power,  still  the  Chicken  is  a  fine 
bird  and  those  sportsmen  who  are  privileged  to 
shoot  them  are  to  be  envied  for  many  a  pleasant 
outing.  We  of  New  England  have  our  compen- 
sation, however,  and  should  never  complain 
while  wise  laws  and  their  growing  respect 
among  our  people  combine  to  keep  up  our  stock 
of  ruffed  grouse. 

For  the  most  part  the  Prairie  Hen  of  the 
west  is  a  dweller  in  the  open  rolling  plains,  tak- 
ing to  the  timber  only  on  rare  occasions  for  shel- 
ter from  the  weather  or  when  much  harassed. 
The  habits  of  the  eastern  species  are  in  the 


12  FEATHERED  GAME 

main  those  of  the  western  representative,  with 
such  variations  as  may  result  from  its  differ- 
ent surroundings,  such  as  a  greater  fondness 
for  brushy  covers  than  has  its  brother  of  the 
prairies.  For  safety's  sake,  and  no  doubt  see- 
ing the  advantages  which  such  a  country  af- 
fords, it  has  become  almost  as  much  of  a  woods 
bird  as  the  ruffed  grouse.  It  is  probable  that 
the  bird  of  the  eastern  section  was  always  more 
of  a  forest  dweller  than  a  citizen  of  the  open. 

The  courting  habits  of  the  Heath  Hen  are 
probably  the  same  as  those  of  the  western  race, 
the  males  performing  the  same  booming  sere- 
nade at  sunrise,  and  it  is  natural  to  suppose 
that  they  dance  and  fight  as  enthusiastically  in 
the  mating  season  as  is  the  custom  of  the  typ- 
ical bird  of  the  plains. 

The  western  bird  has  been  more  fortunate 
than  our  own.  With  their  enormous  wheat 
fields  to  fatten  upon  the  Chickens  might  have 
thriven  wonderfully,  and  had  it  not  been  for  the 
market  shooter  and  the  slaughterer  for  count 
they  might  have  outlasted  any  game  bird  of  the 
continent;  but  ever  the  army  of  sportsmen 
gains  new  recruits,  and  each  year  sees  a  greater 
drain     upon    a     diminishing     supply.     Newer 


x 
X 

H 

< 

LU 

X. 


THE  HEATH  HEN  13 

grounds  must  be  sought  out  to  make  a  good 
showing,  and  so  each  year  the  Chickens  are 
thinned  out  in  their  old  haunts  or  driven  far- 
ther west.  Unless  existing  game  laws  are  re- 
spected and  enforced  even  more  strictly  than 
heretofore  the  day  is  not  far  distant  when  these 
fowl  will  be  as  rare  in  the  west  as  to-day  in  their 
former  eastern  homes.  A  feeder  on  grains  and 
seeds,  berries  and  various  insects,  its  flesh  is 
tender  and  of  good  flavor  during  its  happier  sea- 
son though  growing  a  trifle  strong  during  the 
winter  months.  It  is  considered  a  prime  table 
delicacy  and  thousands  are  killed  for  the  mar- 
ket each  year,  which  fact  leaves  a  fine  chance 
for  game  law  improvement. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  shooting  season  the 
Chickens  lie  very  close,  often  running  along 
just  in  front  of  the  dogs  with  heads  showing 
above  the  short  grass,  clucking  nervously  and 
springing  into  the  air  by  twos  and  threes  with 
steady  and  only  moderately  speedy  flight,  so 
that  a  quick  shot  may  use  several  cartridges  be- 
fore all  are  gone.  It  often  happens  that  some 
old  male  remains  to  rise  unexpectedly  when  all 
the  covey  is  thought  to  have  gone,  and  catch- 
ing the  tyro  with  empty  or  open  gun,  as  often 


14  FEATHERED  GAME 

as  not  escapes.  At  the  season's  opening  they 
are  easy  marks  and  readily  killed,  but  when 
later  they  "pack"  for  the  winter  they  are 
strong  fliers  and  wary  enough,  giving  only  the 
longest  of  shots.  The  shooting  at  this  season 
really  calls  for  some  degree  of  skill. 

Our  bird  nests  in  June  or  even  in  the  first 
half  of  July,  which  seems  late  for  this  latitude, 
making  its  nest  on  the  ground  in  a  brushy  shel- 
ter, and  laying  from  six  to  twelve  eggs,  usually 
nearer  the  smaller  number.  The  eggs  are  of  a 
greenish  gray  color. 

In  its  markings  the  Heath  Hen  does  not  dif- 
fer materially  from  the  ordinary  form  of 
Prairie  Chicken  though  of  slightly  darker  col- 
oring. The  description  of  one  will  pass  for  the 
other  and  is  as  follows:  the  Pinnated  Grouse, 
as  this  bird  is  named  in  the  books,  (so  called 
from  the  neck-tufts,  like  small  wings,  the  dis- 
tinguishing mark  of  the  genus)  varies  in  length 
from  sixteen  to  eighteen  inches.  Upper  parts 
dull  pale  yellow  or  whitish,  regularly  barred 
across  the  body  and  wings  with  dark  brown  and 
dusky ;  throat  pale  yellow  with  a  few  scattering 
speckles  of  dusky  color.  Under  parts  marked 
much  like  the  upper,  but  the  barrings  more 


THE  HEATH  HEN  15 

regular,  though  less  distinct  and  on  a  paler 
ground.  Tail  short,  rounded,  and  carried  more 
erectly  than  is  the  usual  manner  with  the 
grouse,  dusky  in  color,  the  feathers  crossed  by 
uncertain  barrings  of  lighter  shade.  Crissum 
white.  On  each  side  of  the  neck  are  the  long, 
narrow  tufts  of  feathers,  the  type  character, 
(in  the  western  bird  numbering  ten  or  more  and 
somewhat  rounded  at  the  tips,  but  in  the  Heath 
Hen  less  than  ten  in  number,  shorter  and  more 
pointed  at  the  ends)  and  beneath  these  are  two 
bare  patches  of  skin  which  in  the  mating  season 
are  distended  with  air  until  they  resemble  small 
oranges.  There  is  a  slight  crest  on  the  head. 
Feet  feathered  to  the  toes  with  short,  hair-like 
feathers.  The  female  is  marked  like  the  male, 
but  is  somewhat  smaller,  of  lighter  and  less  de- 
cided colors.  Her  neck-tufts  also  are  consider- 
ably smaller.  The  eastern  bird  is,  if  in  any  way 
different,  a  little  smaller,  darker  colored,  and 
perhaps  shorter-legged  than  is  the  typical  bird 
of  the  west.  A  distinct  whitish  spot  on  the  tips 
of  the  scapulars  is  also  a  distinguishing  char- 
acter of  the  eastern  race. 

The  Heath  Hens  do  not  gather  into  packs  as 
winter  comes  on,    (perhaps   because,  all  told, 


16  FEATHERED  GAME 

there  are  not  enough  of  them  to  make  a  respect- 
able pack)  but  seem  to  have  adopted  much  the 
same  mode  of  life  as  the  ruffed  grouse — a  pro- 
ceeding which  will  tend  to  increase  their  chances 
of  long  life,  for  so  long  as  their  jackets  will 
command  a  fair  price  at  the  collector's  shop 
someone  will  try  to  compass  their  destruction. 

THE  EUFFED  GROUSE.  PARTRIDGE. 
BIRCH  PARTRIDGE 

(Bonasa  umbellus.) 

This  noble  fellow  is  a  dweller  in  most  of  our 
New  England  woodlands,  thriving  and  flour- 
ishing under  conditions  which  would  be  fatal  to 
almost  any  other  species.  He  is  a  hardy  bird 
with  a  range  of  great  extent,  for  from  Alaska 's 
snow  and  ice  to  the  sunny  mountain  slopes  of 
the  Carolinas  and  Georgia  this  gallant  grouse 
is  found,  bearing  equally  well  the  breath  of  the 
northern  winter  and  the  heat  of  the  southern 
sun.  There  is  scarcely  a  portion  of  our  coun- 
try where,  under  fitting  conditions,  our  hero  (in 
the  south  a  pheasant,  in  the  north  a  partridge, 
and  in  point  of  fact  neither  the  one  nor  the 
other)  is  not  found,  and  where  found,  resident. 


THE  RUFFED  GROUSE  17 

The  species  is  not  strictly  migratory,  though 
in  the  northern  parts  of  its  range  it  moves 
southward  at  times  with  the  severest  weather, 
and  may  change  its  haunts  at  any  time  from 
natural  causes,  so  that  a  locality  may  be  very 
sparsely  populated  with  grouse  at  one  season 
only  to  swarm  with  them  the  next. 

In  the  different  portions  of  their  range  these 
birds  vary  in  their  coloring,  the  bird  of  Oregon 
and  neighboring  States  being  in  the  most  highly 
developed  specimens  a  deep  chestnut  with  warm 
reddish  shades  in  his  plumage,  and  the  barrings 
on  the  flanks  and  under  parts  much  heavier 
than  in  the  typical  bird.  This  variety  is  Bon- 
asa  umbellus  sabinii  in  the  scientists'  list.  The 
Rocky  Mountains  have  another  variety,  whose 
range  is  from  Alaska,  in  the  Yukon  valley, 
southward  to  Colorado ;  a  race  of  paler  coloring 
and  somewhat  smaller  size.  The  body  color  is 
made  up  of  grayish  tones  and  has  very  little  of 
chestnut  or  reddish  shades  in  the  markings. 
From  its  color  scheme  this  is  often  called  the 
Gray  Ruffed  Grouse,  Bonasa  umbellus  umbel- 
loicles.  In  the  intermediate  districts  they  grade 
imperceptibly  one  into  the  other.  In  the  grouse 
of  Maine  we  find  a  wide  variation  in  color. 


18  FEATHERED  GAME 

Some  specimens  might  almost  pass  for  the  most 
distant  varieties — red  as  Sabine's  or  as  light 
as  those  of  the  Rockies,  and  that,  too,  from  the 
same  nest.  There  is  still  more  "feather-split- 
ting"— a  division  of  the  eastern  race  into  the 
variety,  Bonasa  umbellus  togata,  so  named  from 
the  size  of  the  ruffs,  said  to  be  more  developed 
in  this  variety  than  in  the  typical  bird.  The  body 
color  is  darker  and  the  barrings  on  the  flanks 
are  heavier  and  blacker,  also  more  and  heav- 
ier dark  markings  on  the  buff  of  the  throat  than 
in  the  ordinary  bird.  This  variety  also  aver- 
ages of  larger  size.  The  birds  included  in  this 
classification  are  those  of  the  northern  and 
northeastern  portions  of  the  continent,  west- 
ward to  Manitoba.  This  is  held  to  include  the 
ruffed  grouse  of  all  our  northern  tier  of  States, 
westward  as  far  as  the  Dakotas,  and  east  and 
north  through  Canada.  Thus  our  bird  of 
Maine  is  a  togata,  but  why  need  we  care?  By 
any  other  name  he  'd  be  as  "  foxy. ' '  Our  Ruffed 
Grouse  cannot  be  improved  upon  whatever  he 
is  called.  Long  may  he  flourish  in  our  woods 
and  hills ! 

The    typical    bird    is     supposed    to    dwell 


THE  RUFFED  GROUSE  19 


throughout  the  remaining  eastern  and  south- 
eastern portions  of  the  United  States. 

The  Ruffed  Grouse  is  about  eighteen  inches 
long,  erect,  sprightly  and  graceful  in  carriage 
and  bearing,  a  pretty  walker  and  a  wonder- 
fully speedy  runner,  as  anyone  may  prove  to 
his  entire  satisfaction  when  he  tries  to  capture 
a  wounded  bird,  for  when  to  the  aid  of  its  nim- 
ble feet  it  brings  its  half-spread  wings,  and 
with  its  toes  barely  touching  the  ground,  half 
flies,  half  runs,  only  a  good  dog  can  overtake 
him. 

In  color  he  is  a  beautiful  chestnut  brown, 
marked  and  penciled  with  gray  and  brownish 
black  spots  on  neck,  back,  and  breast — the  col- 
ors to  blend  with  the  shade  of  dead  grass  and 
brown  pine  needles  with  the  sunlight  sifting 
down  through  the  trees.  There  is  a  slight  crest 
on  his  head,  and  on  each  side  of  the  neck  are  the 
beautiful,  glossy  feather  tufts  from  which  the 
species  takes  its  name.  The  "ruffles"  are  lus- 
trous purplish-black  or  bronze-brown — are 
smaller,  it  is  said  sometimes  even  lacking,  in 
the  females,  and  in  no  case  of  these  that  I  have 
noticed  have  the  dark  feathers  which  make  them 


20  FEATHERED  GAME 

met  across  the  forebreast  as  in  the  males.  It 
has  been  stated  that  the  bronze  ruff  is  the  dis- 
tinguishing mark  of  the  hen,  but  my  own  obser- 
vation would  indicate  that,  in  general,  the  red 
bird  often  has  a  bronze  ruff,  and  the  black  or 
purplish  ruff  is  found  on  the  gray  bird  without 
regard  to  sex.  It  may  be  that  the  bird  of  three 
or  four  years  of  age  is  more  likely  to  sport  the 
dark  ruffles,  but  I  am  not  prepared  to  state  it 
for  a  fact.  The  beautiful  fan-like  tail  is  finely 
barred  with  black  on  a  gray  or  red-brown 
ground,  with  a  broad  subterminal  band  of  black, 
each  feather  ending  with  an  ashy  gray  tip. 
In  the  female  the  subterminal  bar  across  the 
tail  feathers  is  usually  broken,  or  at  least  much 
less  noticeable  on  the  central  pair,  and  while  not 
an  invariable  rule,  it  is,  with  the  interruption 
of  the  ruffle  feathers  across  the  breast,  a  pretty 
safe  mark  for  distinguishing  the  sexes.  How 
far  these  distinctions  may  hold  in  the  typical 
bird  I  know  not.  My  experience  has  been  al- 
most entirely  with  the  northern  bird,  togata, 
which  is  surely  not  the  least  worthy  member  of 
the  family. 

The  male  bird  will  average  three   or   four 
ounces  heavier  than  the  female,  running  from 


THE  RUFFED  GROUSE  21 

twenty-two  to  twenty-seven  ounces.  The  heav- 
iest bird  of  my  own  killing  pulled  the  scales 
down  to  twenty-eight  ounces,  and  this  with  an 
empty  crop.  The  largest  "partridge"  that  I 
ever  saw  weighed  made  a  record  of  twenty- 
nine  and  one-half  ounces.  I  am  well  aware  that 
"competent  judges"  will  "estimate"  and  fur- 
nish much  more  imposing  figures,  but  I  have 
noticed  that  these  do  not  always  tally  with  the 
scales. 

During  our  driving  New  England  snow- 
storms partridges  will  sometimes  take  refuge 
from  the  cutting  blasts  or  for  a  night's  shelter 
from  the  cold  by  plunging  from  the  wing  into 
the  heaped-up  drifts,  thence  to  emerge  when 
the  storm  has  passed.  It  is  said  that  they  are 
at  times  closed  in  by  an  icy  sleet  following  upon 
the  snow  and  making  a  crust  through  which 
they  cannot  break.  In  such  cases  the  unfortu- 
nate prisoners  are  apt  to  furnish  an  unexpected 
feast  to  some  prowling  fox  whose  famine-sharp- 
ened nose  has  traced  them  out.  This  may  cause 
more  destruction  than  is  realized,  but  the  dan- 
ger is  probably  more  theoretical  than  actual. 
There  is  usually  small  need  to  burrow  at  all  in 
this  latitude;  furthermore,  do  you  not  think 


22  FEATHERED  GAME 

that  a  heavy  fall  of  snow  in  worse  than  zero 
weather  (and  nothing  less  would  drive  them  to 
cover)  with  a  rise  of  temperature  sufficient  to 
thaw  or  rain,  and  then  a  "freeze,"  each  follow- 
ing the  other  and  all  taking  place  within  the 
probable  space  of  ten  hours'  time  is  a  very 
great   rarity   even   in   a   region   as  noted   for 
weather  eccentricities  as  is  our  dear  New  Eng- 
land ?     From  the  many  snug  wigwams  made  by 
the  pendant  branches  of  evergreens  or  sturdy 
roofs  of  "junipers,"   over-arched  with   snow, 
sheltering  some  storm-harassed  partridge  and 
furnishing  plenty  of  food  of  foxberry  leaves 
and  berries,  which  I  see  in  my  own  range  of 
woods  I  have  small  belief  in  any  serious  reduc- 
tion in  our  grouse  population  from  this  cause. 
In  such  shelters  as  these  it  is  almost  impossible 
to  be  so  closed  in  that  Mr.  Grouse  cannot  get 
out  when  he  desires.     Many  times  when  an  ice- 
storm  has  been  blamed  for  the  apparent  scarc- 
ity of  grouse  they  have  only  departed  on  one  of 
their  regular  ' '  spring  movings. ' '     Surely,  when 
the  buds  commence  to   swell  and  the  "green 
things  growing"  start  up  through  the  remain- 
ing ice-blanket  we  do  not  expect  the  bird  to  stay 


THE  RUFFED  GROUSE  23 

in  the  thick  growth  and  tall  timber  which  made 
his  winter  home. 

The  burrowing  habit  is  common  to  nearly  all 
northern  grouse.  With  this  species  it  is  more 
common  in  the  extreme  northern  part  of  its 
range,  where  the  snowfall  is  heavier  and  the 
snow  itself  less  likely  to  " crust." 

Rocky,  birch-clad  hillsides,  deep  ravines 
with  tangles  of  brush  and  slender  streams  wind- 
ing through  their  depths, — the  thickest,  most 
impenetrable  cover  that  the  woods  afford — 
these  are  their  favorite  spots.  A  finer  game 
bird,  a  brainier  dweller  in  the  wilds  it  is  hard 
to  find.  All  the  more  so  when  he  has  made  the 
acquaintance  of  Nimrod  and  his  hammerless 
gun.  This  for  the  bird  near  civilization,  for 
if  we  believe  all  we  hear  of  him  in  the  "big 
woods"  we  shall  have  small  respect  for  his 
judgment.  Still,  we  must  make  due  allowance 
in  "a  hunter's  yarn,"  which,  as  we  know,  gives 
us  "the  truth,  the  whole  truth," — and  as  much 
more  as  we  can  swallow. 

About  April  they  begin  to  mate  and  the 
woods  resound  with  the  "long  roll"  of  the  male, 
"drumming"  his  serenade  to  the  lady  of  his 


24  FEATHERED  GAME 

choice.  Perhaps  we  should  say  "ladies,"  for 
he  usually  has  several  wives  and  would  take 
more  if  he  could  get  them.  He  struts  up  and 
down  on  some  old  fallen  tree,  with  his  tail 
erect  and  widespread  to  its  fullest  extent,  then 
suddenly  dropping  it  and  pressing  it  closely  to 
the  log,  his  short,  powerful  and  deeply  con- 
caved wings  beat  a  continuous  roll,  slowly  at 
first,  but  rapidly  increasing  in  speed  and  vol- 
ume, then  dying  away  again.  This  noise 
sounds  like  the  rumble  of  far-off  thunder  and 
may  be  heard  a  long  distance  on  a  still  day. 
The  manner  in  which  this  "drumming"  is  pro- 
duced was  a  question  for  a  long  time  undecided, 
many  different  theories  being  advanced.  The 
old  idea  was  that  he  struck  his  wings  upon  a 
hollow  log,  but  if  this  were  the  case  how  does 
he  drum  upon  stones,  sound  logs,  or  the  top 
rail  of  a  fence!  The  solution  most  generally 
accepted  is  that  this  strange  music  is  caused  by 
the  vibration  of  the  stiff  quill  feathers  in  their 
rapid  motion  through  the  air,  these  never  touch- 
ing the  body.  The  sound  is  very  difficult  to 
locate  and  from  its  peculiarly  muffled  tone  ac- 
curate judgment  of  the  performer's  distance  is 
almost  impossible.     The  bird  will  use  the  same 


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THE  RUFFED  GROUSE  25 

spot  for  his  drumming  for  a  long  time,  coming 
day  after  day  to  his  chosen  station.  One  old 
"drumming  log"  is  still  in  use  near  where  I  am 
writing,  although  the  screen  of  spruces  for- 
merly protecting  it  has  been  cut  down  these 
three  years  and  it  is  now  fifty  yards  to  the  near- 
est cover.  Mr.  Grouse,  if  he  survives  the  perils 
of  the  fall  months,  will  return  next  season;  if 
not,  another  will  "take  the  stump"  in  the  good 
cause  and  continue  the  business  at  the  old  stand. 
The  courtship  over  and  happily  ended,  the 
hen  builds  her  nest  in  some  secluded  and  safely 
hidden  nook  and  begins  housekeeping.  Her 
home  is  a  very  modest  affair,  quite  unpreten- 
tious. On  the  ground,  in  the  shelter  of  a  fall- 
en tree  or  in  the  shadow  of  a  juniper  bush  a 
small  depression  is  rounded  out  and  lined  with 
leaves,  grass  and  dry  pine  needles — very  little 
of  the  artistic  but  all  for  convenience  and  util- 
ity— simplicity  itself.  It  contains  from  seven 
to  sixteen  eggs,  creamy  white,  rather  pointed  at 
one  end,  and  as  may  be  guessed,  when  the 
youngsters  arrive  the  mother  bird  has  no  lack 
of  employment  in  caring  for  them,  for  at  this 
season  she  leaves  the  male  entirely  and  sets  up 
housekeeping  alone  lest  he  destroy  the  nest  and 


26  FEATHERED  GAME 

eggs.  When  the  chicks  are  half  grown  the 
family  is  again  united,  the  male  bird  usually 
joining  during  the  latter  part  of  August. 

The  mother  bird  thus  left  to  her  own  devices, 
displays  great  bravery  in  defense  of  her  young, 
and  will  often  fly  at  an  intruder  in  the  same 
fashion  as  a  hen  defending  her  brood.  I  re- 
member once  when  accompanied  on  a  stroll 
through  the  woods  by  a  bull  terrier  dog,  that 
we  came  suddenly  into  a  little  opening  among 
the  trees  and  well-nigh  stepped  into  a  brood  of 
little  "cheepers."  The  dog  being  in  advance, 
mother  partridge  made  a  furious  dash  at  him, 
and  when  the  astonished  animal  refused  to  be 
frightened,  she  made  still  another  desperate 
charge  right  into  his  face,  when  he  at  once 
struck  her  down  and  stood  with  this  new  species 
of  hen  under  his  feet,  making  as  though  he 
would  finish  her  at  once,  but,  being  an  obedient 
fellow,  and  perhaps  with  the  remembrance  of 
former  whippings  for  chicken  killing,  he  reluct- 
antly let  her  go  with  no  more  damage  than  a  few 
ruffled  feathers.  She  lost  no  time  in  getting 
away  when  set  free,  for  her  point  was  won  and 
not  a  chick  was  in  sight. 

Failing  by  force  to  repel  an  invasion  on  her 


THE  RUFFED  GROUSE  27 

domain,  she  next  tries  cunning,  and  will  drag 
herself  along  the  ground  for  some  distance  just 
in  front  of  her  eager  pursuer,  and  only  when 
he  thinks  to  seize  the  crippled  and  wing-broken 
bird  does  she  dash  from  the  ground  and  whiz 
away  to  the  safety  of  the  nearest  thick  growth. 
Meanwhile  the  young  birds  have  crept  into  the 
brush,  slipped  under  dead  leaves,  flattened 
themselves  upon  the  ground,  it  may  be  at  your 
very  feet,  and  lie  there  motionless,  disappearing 
as  if  by  magic  from  a  spot  which  one  second  be- 
fore was  fairly  alive  with  chirping  and  peeping 
little  yellowish-brown  fluffy  balls  running  in 
every  direction.  Once  safely  hidden  they  re- 
main quiet  and  still  until  the  danger  is  past  and 
they  hear  again  the  low,  mellow  call  of  the 
mother  bird  as  she  gathers  her  brood  to  run  and 
feed  as  though  nothing  had  happened.  Few  are 
the  farmers '  boys  who  have  not  ' '  'Most  caught 
a  pa'tridge,  only" — and  in  that  last  word  is  the 
whole  matter  in  a  nut-shell — they  didn't,  in  just 
this  way.  Yet  it  is  no  matter  for  wonderment 
that  Master  Barefoot  is  deceived  by  these 
tricks,  for  a  more  perfect  piece  of  acting  is  not 
to  be  seen. 

Do  you  know  a  burnt  patch  in  the  woods,  or  a 


28  FEATHERED  GAME 

clearing  that  the  lumberman  has  made,  now 
growing  up  with  blackberries,  raspberries,  and 
all  the  underbrush  which  so  quickly  covers  up 
these  unsightly  scars  on  mother  Nature's  face? 
Then  some  bright  September  morning  while  the 
dew  still  glitters  on  blade  and  leaf,  take  your 
dog  and  gun  and  beat  it  up.  A  little  amphi- 
theatre overgrown  with  berry  bushes  and  low 
brush,  walled  in  on  every  side  by  a  sturdy 
growth  of  pines,  spruces  or  hemlock,  dark  green 
and  solid  in  their  masses.  One  lone  dead  stub 
towers  above  the  smaller  and  younger  growth 
of  the  clearing.  Gray  and  desolate  it  stands, 
bristling  with  the  ragged  and  broken  remains 
of  its  former  lusty  youth,  and  at  its  feet  the 
bare  ledge  stone  shows  through  its  garment  of 
moss,  pine  needles  and  scanty  grass.  Here  is 
a  low  stump  which  a  dozen  changing  seasons 
have  almost  levelled  with  the  ground,  and  on 
its  sides  and  at  its  base  the  marks  of  the  par- 
tridges' scratching  feet  as  they  search  for  the 
grubs  and  worms,  tenants  at  will  of  its  inner 
chambers.  On  one  side  a  shallow,  round  hole 
scooped  out  of  the  dry  earth  shows  where  the 
bird  has  made  his  dust  bath  and  lain  basking  in 
the  sun  during  the  warm  afternoons.     And  on 


THE  RUFFED  GROUSE  29 

this  knoll — Whir-r-r!  Quick,  now!  Too  late! 
He  dives  down  a  ravine  at  the  right  and  when 
he  comes  again  into  view  he  is  too  far  away  for 
shot  to  harm  him.  Where  was  the  dog?  I 
don't  hear  his  bell.  Ah!  There  he  is — creep- 
ing cautiously  up  to  a  clump  of  blackberry 
bushes.  Carefully,  now,  for  every  quick-witted, 
sharp-sighted  grouse  in  the  clearing  is  on  the 
alert  since  that  first  bird  tore  down  the  gully  at 
full  speed.  See  that  puppy!  Isn't  that  a  pic- 
ture for  you?  He  perforins  like  a  veteran! 
He  stiffens,  and  trembling  with  suppressed 
joy  and  eagerness,  turns  a  cautious  glance  be- 
hind to  see  if  you  know  the  critical  state  of 
things,  as  slowly  turns  back  again  and  stands  a 
marble  statue  against  the  background  of  green 
waving  brakes  and  moss-grown  stumps.  A  sec- 
ond later  you  hear  the  resentful  scolding — 
''Quit-quit!  Quit-quit!" — a  rapid  patter  of 
nimble  feet  on  the  dry  leaves — Whir-r-r-r! 
Away  he  goes — a  mere  brown  streak  at  light- 
ning speed! 

Perchance  you  have  stopped  their  headlong 
rush  many  times  before;  in  that  case  you  may 
stop  this  one — if  you  have  luck.  It  may  be 
that  this  is  your  first  experience,  when  it  is 


30  FEATHERED  GAME 

probable  that  you  will  stand  open-mouthed  and 
stare  with  all  the  eyes  in  your  head,  until,  diving 
into  the  green  depths  a  hundred  yards  away, 
goes  another  lost  opportunity.  You  may  even 
do  as  did  another  of  my  acquaintances  near  the 
beginning  of  his  sylvan  career.  He  had  stood 
"at  gaze"  at  every  rising  grouse  and  was 
empty-handed  in  a  cover  where  by  moderate 
shooting  skill  he  might  have  made  a  fair  bag, 
for  the  season  was  just  beginning  and  the 
young  birds  were  lying  well.  He  declared  he 
would  do  better  at  the  next  point  (as  they  all 
do)  and  when  the  next  bird  flushed  he  threw  his 
gun  to  his  shoulder  and  shouted,  "Bang!"  with 
all  his  lungs.  He  had  the  right  idea,  however, 
and  can  now  hold  his  own  with  the  most  of 
them. 

That  roaring,  rushing  flight  is  likely  to  con- 
fuse any  but  a  veteran.  Yet  no  owl  can  fly 
more  noiselessly  than  he  when  he  is  so  minded. 
I  know  many  a  good  duck-  and  snipe-shot  that 
will  invariably  forget  to  shoot  when  Mr.  Grouse 
dashes  out — Steady,  now!  Another  point! 
Whir-r-r !  Away  he  goes  and  as  you  pull  trig- 
ger he  swerves  suddenly  from  his  course  and 
you  have  missed  him.     Yes,  your  muttered  re- 


THE  RUFFED  GROUSE  31 

mark  was  apt  and  appropriate,  but  better  luck 
next  time.  The  dog  moves  up  and  points  just 
where  the  last  bird  burst  out  from  among  the 
junipers,  and  you  laugh  and  say,  ''One  on  you, 
old  boy!"  and  come  carelessly  up  to  stand  by 
his  side  as  you  reload.  At  the  snap  of  your 
gun  as  you  close  it  another  bird  dashes  out  al- 
most from  beneath  your  feet.  What  a  chance ! 
Straightaway,  and  as  steady  as  a  standing 
mark!  The  shot  of  a  lifetime!  Bang!  And 
as  the  gentle  breeze  carries  off  the  thin  blue 
haze  of  the  nitro  you  catch  a  glimpse  of  his 
falling  body.  Thud!  The  strong  wings  beat 
a  rapid  tattoo  upon  the  dead  leaves,  scattering 
the  brown  pine  needles,  then  are  still.  The 
feathers  drift  down  wind  in  a  cloud,  and  re- 
loading as  you  go,  you  hasten  to  gather  him  in. 
For  a  short  time  the  fun  is  fast  and  furious; 
the  covey  puts  for  the  thick  of  the  woods  singly 
and  in  pairs,  leaving  toll,  let  us  hope,  and  giv- 
ing you  rare  sport.  When  all  have  left  the 
open  you  go  down  into  the  gully  where  the  noon- 
day sun  scarcely  penetrates.  At  the  bottom  a 
slender  stream  complains  and  gurgles  as  it 
tumbles  over  mossy  stones  and  twists  under 
fallen  tree  trunks.     There  he  goes!     Your  gun 


32  FEATHERED  GAME 

is  at  your  shoulder  but  you  see  him  only  dimly 
and  mark  his  course  mostly  by  the  shaking 
twigs  and  so  decide  to  wait  until  he  tops  yon 
fallen  tree  and  comes  more  clearly  into  view. 
Thus  you  learn  that  you  must  take  this  fellow 
when  you  can,  for  he  knows  better  than  to  rise 
into  your  open  view  like  that.  Such  a  move 
might  do  for  a  woodcock,  but  this  master  of 
sylvan  strategy  knows  a  trick  worth  two  of 
that.  He  dives  below  the  log,  runs  into  the 
rankly  growing  brakes  and  fifty  yards  beyond 
again  takes  wing  to  fly  in  safety  into  a  thick 
hemlock  on  the  side  hill.  You  lower  your  gun 
and  exclaim,  "Well,  I'll  be  hanged!"  (or  words 
to  that  effect),  and  a  red  squirrel,  sole  witness 
of  your  defeat,  goes  scurrying  up  the  spruce 
tree  at  your  side  and  jeers  and  chuckles  and 
"sasses"  you  with  all  the  wild-wood  impudence 
at  his  command.  No  opportunity  should  be  al- 
lowed to  pass  unimproved  if  you  are  to  make 
a  good  score.  Your  percentage  of  kills  to  car- 
tridges used  is  bound  to  be  small,  so  don't  try 
to  "fatten  your  average"  by  picking  shots. 
Under  ordinary  conditions  one  cannot  make  a 
bag  of  Ruffed  Grouse  and  be  sparing  of  his 
ammunition.     It   is   often   necessary  to   shoot 


THE  RUFFED  GROUS  33 

through  the  brushy  screen  at  the  sound  of  their 
wings — pull  trigger  at  the  glimmer  of  a  feather, 
or  through  the  leaves  where  the  bird  may  be — 
taking  every  chance,  however  slight,  to  bring 
this  game  to  bag.  I  think  all  ' '  brush  gunners ' ' 
will  agree  that  this  is  not  the  easiest  bird  to  hit 
when  once  on  the  wing — a  mere  flash  of  quick- 
moving,  roaring  wings,  and  a  glimmer  of  sun- 
light on  his  russet-brown  back — gone!  Per- 
haps the  cunning  rascal  marked  where  you 
stood  and  ran  swiftly  to  get  a  thick  hemlock  be- 
tween himself  and  your  gun,  then  a  leap  into 
the  air,  an  arrowy  flight,  and  when  you  have 
hurried  to  one  side  to  get  a  sight  at  him  he  is 
two  gunshots  away. 

"Don't  they  ever  give  you  a  sitting  shot?" 
0,  yes !  When  you  are  tangled  up  on  the  points 
of  a  wire  fence,  with  one  barb  stuck  into  the 
middle  of  your  back  just  where  it  cannot  be 
reached  with  either  hand,  and  another  induce- 
ment to  profanity  has  a  grip  on  the  leg  of  your 
trousers, — at  such  times  a  grouse  will  often 
"flap"  lazily  from  the  ground  into  a  tree  right 
over  your  back  and  perch  where  you  can  see 
him  only  by  twisting  your  neck  almost  off,  but 
shoot!     0,  no!     There  he  will  sit  and  criticise 


34  FEATHEEED  GAME 

the  language  in  which  you  voice  your  benevo- 
lent wishes  for  the  future  welfare  of  the  invent- 
or of  that  style  of  fence  (may  they  be  fulfilled!) 
until  he  sees  signs  of  the  barbs  letting  go  their 
hold,  when  he  is  away  like  a  bullet,  his  wings  a 
mere  haze  as  they  roar  through  the  branches. 

Occasionally  the  farmer's  cur  is  "trained" 
for  a  "pa'tridge  dawg;"  that  is  to  say,  his  nat- 
ural propensities  to  bark  and  "yap"  are  turned 
to  some  account  He  runs  in  upon  the  young 
flocks,  which  instantly  take  to  the  trees;  the 
dog  then  makes  such  a  noise  with  his  continua1 
yelping  and  running  about  that  the  birds  see 
and  hear  nothing  but  this  miserable  intruder, 
and  so  allow  the  mighty  hunter  to  creep  unob- 
served within  easy  distance,  maybe  to  take  a 
resting  shot  at  their  motionless  bodies.  Often 
honest  cocker  spaniels  are  degraded  by  this 
low  practice.  In  the  mind  of  the  sportsman  this 
stands  almost  as  high  as  driving  a  doe  to  water 
and  paddling  a  canoe  alongside  to  blow  her 
brains  out  with  a  charge  of  buckshot. 

There  is  a  widespread  notion  that  when  a 
flock  is  thus  "treed"  a  pot-shooter  may  secure 
several  birds  before  they  will  take  alarm  and 
fly  if  he  will  take  care  to  shoot  the  lowest  one 


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THE  RUFFED  GROUSE  35 

first  and  thus  avoid  alarming  the  flock  by  the 
dead  birds'  tumbling  down  among  them.  I  do 
not  say  this  cannot  be  done;  I  only  say  that  I 
have  never  seen  it  done — hope  I  never  shall — 
and  while  this  may  take  place  in  the  northern 
wilderness,  the  shooter  who  counts  on  getting 
more  than  one  chance  at  a  roosting  flock  in  the 
covers  near  civilization  is  laying  up  material 
for  his  own  disappointment.  The  Ruffed 
Grouse  in  my  locality,  at  least,  have  passed  this 
stage  in  their  intellectual  development  these 
many  years,  and  in  the  east  generally,  the 
sportsman  fairly  earns  all  of  these  birds  which 
his  skill  and  good  fortune  combine  to  bring  into 
his  hands. 

Though  any  lawful  season  is  a  good  time  to 
hunt  this  game,  most  sportsmen  prefer  the 
sport  when  October's  frosts  and  winds  have 
swept  some  of  the  brown  leaves  from  the 
branches  in  the  covers,  when  with  the  glorious 
autumn  weather,  the  brilliant  colors  of  the  flam- 
ing maples,  the  softer  tones  of  oak  and  birch, 
chestnut  and  beech  trees,  the  life-giving  Octo- 
ber air,  together  with  a  fair  prospect  of  captur- 
ing this  gallant  bird,  there  could  scarcely  be  a 
better  season  to  put  in  a  happy  day  in  the 


36  FEATHERED  GAME 

woods.  Add  the  fact  that  the  bird  itself,  now 
full-fledged  and  confident  in  the  powers  of  its 
wings,  lies  closer  at  this  latter  part  of  the  sea- 
son, thus  giving  a  much  better  chance,  and  one 
may  easily  see  why  the  sportsman  will  prefer 
this  month.  Many  are  the  fine  opportunities 
on  the  rocky  hillsides  where  the  leafless 
birches  show  their  white  shafts  against  the  dull 
gray  ledges;  where  the  dead  leaves,  frost- 
killed  and  damp  on  the  mossy  rocks,  give  back 
no  sound  to  the  stealthy  foot-fall  of  the  gunner. 
Among  the  bare  brown  stems  and  boughs  the 
grouse  goes  away  like  a  shooting  star  and  is 
seen  much  more  clearly  than  in  September's 
profusion  of  green  leaves.  It  is  well  for  two 
men  to  work  together  in  such  a  place,  as  the 
Grouse  will  commonly  fly  up  over  the  ledge 
when  flushed,  and  there  will  be  more  chance  of 
capturing  the  birds  if  one  gun  be  posted  on  the 
lower  level  and  its  companion  be  on  the  ridge. 
If  the  bird  is  not  shot  at  the  chances  are  that 
it  will  alight  just  over  the  brow  of  the  hill  and 
lie  close  next  time.  If,  however,  the  gunner  be 
above  him  when  he  darts  away  he  must  trust  to 
luck  and  his  own  eyes  to  tell  him  the  direction 
which  his  intended  victim  takes,  as  commonly 


THE  RUFFED  GROUSE  37 

the  bird  will  fly  straight  down  to  the  bottom  and 
when  out  of  sight  turn  sharply  to  one  side  for 
another  hundred  yards. 

If  I  may  have  but  one  month  for  partridge 
shooting  give  me  November.  Lowery  skies,  the 
threat  of  a  storm  in  the  chill  air,  when  the  birds 
are  putting  in  provisions  for  the  days  of  hun- 
ger which  a  snowstorm  makes;  or  the  first 
bright  day  after  the  storm  has  passed  and  the 
birds  have  come  out  on  the  sunny  spots  to  bask 
in  the  warmth  they  now  appreciate.  I  shall 
ever  hold  one  old  hill  in  warm  remembrance  for 
many  days  of  glorious  sport  along  its  rocky 
spurs.  A  high,  gray  ledge,  pine-  and  hemlock- 
covered  on  the  crown  and  base,  its  slopes  clad 
with  sumac,  blackberry  bushes,  wild  rose 
bushes,  scattered  scrub  pines  and  small  birches, 
the  naked  rocks  half  buried  in  the  junipers,  and 
a  few  lordly  chestnut  trees  towering  over  all. 
My  last  day  of  the  season  as  a  sample  of  many : 
two  days  of  rain  and  sleet,  cold  and  miserable, 
and  on  the  third  day  the  storm  breaking  and 
the  afternoon  sun  flooding  the  hillsides.  From 
a  sense  of  duty  I  had  hunted  the  alder  coverts 
and  the  thick  growths  which  had  sheltered  them 
on  other  days,  where  a  few  difficult  shots  had 


38  FEATHERED  GAME 

made  no  returns.  But  we  are  on  the  old  ledge 
in  more  open  cover  at  last.  Scarcely  have  we 
cleared  the  denser  growth  when  the  dog  comes 
to  a  halt.  A  warning  glance  at  his  master  and 
he  commences  trailing.  Through  the  thickets 
which  straggle  away  from  the  main  body  of  the 
woods, — advanced  guards  creeping  out  among 
the  rocks, — down  into  the  junipers  below,  on 
and  on,  stopping  here  and  there  to  point  as  the 
bird  halts,  ever  careful  lest  he  start  the  game 
too  soon,  waiting  until  his  master  gains  a  place 
where  he  may  shoot  if  the  bird  rises.  Aha! 
Frozen  for  keeps!  Just  the  tip  of  his  white 
stern  showing  past  the  green  wall  of  the  juni- 
pers. Whir-r-r-r-r !  Bang!  Bang!  "Da — er 
— Thunderation!"  Away  scales  Mr.  Grouse, 
dropping  down  the  hillside  like  an  arrow  slant- 
ing earthward  after  a  flight.  Near  the  foot  he 
turns  and  careers  out  over  the  tops  of  the  trees 
to  disappear  among  them  three  hundred  yards 
away.  "Well,  little  dog,  a  good  pointer  and  a 
good  gun  are  clean  wasted  on  such  a  master. 
But  how  should  I  know  he  would  throw  a  sum- 
mersault like  that?  Both  loads  went  yards 
over  his  back  and  I  defy  anyone  to  have  pointed 


THE  RUFFED  GROUSE  39 

a    gun-muzzle    below    him.     Well,    better   luck 
next  time,  let  us  hope. ' ' 

Fifty  yards  farther  on,  the  same  careful 
drawing  to  a  final  "stagey"  pose.  Whir-r-r-r! 
and  a  big  cock  partridge  dashes  up  into  the  shel- 
ter of  the  birches  above  us.  Bang!  "Fetch 
him,  good  boy!  That's  better.  That's" — In 
the  act  of  holding  the  bird  to  his  master's  hand 
the  dog  has  wheeled  and  pointed,  carefully  put- 
ting down  his  trophy  and  moving  in  a  step  or 
two.  The  monologue  flags,  then  ceases.  Right 
at  the  dog's  side  I  wait,  then  give  a  low  chirrup 
for  him  to  go  on.  This  one  I  must  have  and 
things  look  most  promising.  Whir-r-r-r! 
Bang!  "What!"  Bang!  and  at  the  second 
shot  the  bird  tumbles  in  a  cloud  of  feathers,  a 
long  forty  yards  away,  close  to  the  thick  woods 
on  the  hilltop.  Together,  dog  and  I,  we  scram- 
ble through  the  briars  to  the  summit,  the 
pointer  just  a  bit  in  front.  He  pulls  up  short 
and  points.  "All  right,  old  man.  Yes,  it  was 
just  here  he  fell.  Fetch!  No?  Well,  I  can 
pick  him  up  myself,"  and  so  I  do — er — not! 
With  a  thunderous  roar  of  hurrying  wings  the 
bird  flushes  under  foot,  rocketing  into  the  tree 


40  FEATHERED  GAME 

tops,  followed  by  two  hasty  shots,  one  from  the 
hip,  the  other  with  the  gun-butt  under  my  arm- 
pit, and  taken  completely  unaware,  both 
charges  tear  great  rents  through  the  yellow- 
leaved  chestnuts  and  screening  pines,  but  for 
the  bird  only  causing  more  haste  where  already 
speed  was  not  lacking.  My  dog,  with  a  comical 
wriggle  of  his  tail  to  show  his  appreciation  of 
the  joke  on  his  master,  takes  a  few  steps  to  the 
left  and  brings  to  my  astonished  gaze  the  bird 
we  had  seen  fall.  When  shall  I  learn  to  trust 
entirely  to  that  keen  nose  and  fine  wit  which  is 
by  far  the  most  important  member  of  our  part- 
nership f 

With  the  last  trophy  safely  stowed,  we  move 
on  to  further  conquests.  Over  a  stone  wall  out 
into  a  low  spot  between  two  spurs  of  the  hill. 
An  old  apple  tree  and  a  few  thick  pines  make 
the  setting  of  a  picture  which  has  for  a  centre 
of  interest  the  motionless  figure  of  the  white 
pointer  dog.  Forty  yards  away  two  grouse 
rise  and  tear  away  up  hill.  Two  hasty  shots 
sent  after  them  just  as  they  turn  the  crest  of  the 
ridge  never  ruffle  a  feather,  but  the  reports 
start  four  more  close  at  hand,  which  offer  the 
easiest  of  shots  to  my  empty  weapon.     I  rush 


THE  RUFFED  GROUSE  41 

a  couple  of  cartridges  into  the  chambers  and 
aim  at  the  hindmost  just  as  the  woods  are  clos- 
ing in  upon  it,  but  return  to  sanity,  just  then 
catching  sight  of  the  fact  that  all  this  time  old 
Level-head  hasn't  moved  a  muscle.  In  an  in- 
stant more  I  stand  beside  him,  pull  my  hat  down 
a  bit  tighter,  draw  a  couple  of  long  breaths, 
test  the  safety  catch  of  the  gun  to  be  sure  it  is 
in  the  right  place,  and  by  these  processes  of 
mental  philosophy  manage  to  steady  my  nerves 
a  trifle.  A  low  cluck  to  the  dog  and  he  moves 
in,  his  tail  wagging  ever  so  slightly.  Again  he 
stops,  and  at  my  approach  up  jump  two  big 
fantails,  not  ten  feet  away,  bursting  out  from 
the  junipers  with  the  roar  of  a  tornado.  A 
quick  snapshot  (a  clear  case  of  suicide  on  the 
bird's  part,  for  I  know  not  where  I  held)  ac- 
counts for  one,  and  holding  well  over  the  other, 
who  is  climbing  skyward  to  clear  the  trees,  he, 
too,  comes  down !  Can  I  believe  it?  A  double ! 
This  is  not  one  of  the  shots  I  forget  when  re- 
counting this  day's  doings! 

Up  on  the  hill-top  where  we  go  in  pursuit  we 
find  the  other  members  of  the  covey.  But 
things  are  different  here.  Cover  is  plenty  and 
though  the  birds  lie  close   enough,   the   ever- 


42  FEATHERED  GAME 

greens  behind  which  they  invariably  flush  make 
impervious  screens  for  certain  noisily-departing 
forms  going  comet-like  among  the  trees.  I  note 
that  I  do  not  kill  each  bird  that  rises ;  that  how- 
ever I  plan  to  get  a  shot  the  bird  makes  other 
arrangements.  I  remember  the  newspaper 
hero  who  has  killed  a  thousand  "partridges"  in 
a  day  on  his  English  estate  and  wonder  what 
his  average  would  be  here.  Still,  in  no  nig- 
gardly spirit,  I  continue  driving  good  ammuni- 
tion into  the  tree  trunks  and  shooting  unprofit- 
able holes  into  the  "circumambient  ether;"  but 
this  is  a  part  of  the  fun — this,  and  the  prying  of 
rose  thorns  out  of  my  shins,  to  be  done  later  on. 
So  we  press  on,  ever  keeping  up  a  brisk  action 
with  the  rear  guard,  hoping  to  drive  them 
through  this  cover  into  another  rock-,  birch-, 
and  scrub-pine  paradise  beyond  the  thick. 
Here  we  have  a  better  chance  and  again  we  find 
our  opportunity.  The  dog  is  beating  up  hill 
and  down  across  my  path.  He  whirls  and 
stands  braced  as  though  he  feared  someone 
might  push  him  against  the  bird.  I  rush  to  a 
flat,  table-like  rock  which  commands  a  good 
view  of  the  surroundings  and  stand  facing  the 
dog,    awaiting    developments.     Scarcely   am   I 


THE  RUFFED  GROUSE  43 

placed  when  almost  from  under  foot  out  dashes 
a  big  red  beauty  and  curls  around  my  head  in  a 
nerve-tangling  curve.  I  try  to  turn  with  him 
and  just  clear  his  steering  gear  with  the  first 
cartridge,  to  steady  down  and  make  a  good 
clean  kill  with  the  second  as  he  is  entering  the 
tall  timber.  Mr.  Dog  retrieves  him  proudly, 
glad  to  see  his  master  score  an  average  of  one 
kill  to  five  cartridges. 

It  is  grand  sport  to  stop  their  swift  career  (if 
you  can,  for  not  every  bungler  can  do  this 
trick)  and  it  makes  the  pulses  leap  to  see  them 
come  hurtling  to  the  ground.  The  birds  are 
now  no  weaklings — no  half-fledged  youngsters 
still  running  with  the  mother,  but  plump  and 
well-grown  beauties  and  the  best  game  which 
the  New  England  gunner,  or  for  that  matter 
any  other  student  of  the  smoothbore,  ever 
brings  to  bag. 

For  success  all  the  requisites  of  the  true 
sportsman  and  the  highest  quality  of  work  by 
the  dog  are  needed.  The  bird  may  lead  your 
dog  a  long  chase  through  the  timber,  over 
rocks,  through  briars  and  brush,  keeping  him 
"roading"  and  " pointing"  until  both  have  dis- 
tanced the  gun,  and  at  such  times  he  makes  a 


44  FEATHERED  GAME 

sore  trial  of  your  treasure's  temper  and 
staunchness.  Next  time  perhaps  he  may  flush 
from  under  your  very  feet.  In  most  cases  his 
flight  is  not  longer  than  from  three  to  four  hun- 
dred yards,  so  that,  knowing  your  ground,  you 
may  get  another  chance  if  you  fail  to  stop  him 
the  first  time.  It  takes  a  good  load  of  shot  and 
that  well  placed,  too,  if  this  bold  ro\er  is  to  be 
your  prize.  He  will  fly  till  his  last  breath, — 
yes,  and  set  his  wings  and  scale  even  after  that ; 
or  if  only  wing-broken  will  run  and  skulk  and 
crawl  into  brush  heaps  until  pursuit  is  useless. 
Many  a  grouse  carries  his  death  with  him  as  he 
flies  the  hunter,  when,  if  only  followed,  he  would 
be  found  perhaps  a  hundred  yards  away,  still 
and  lifeless.  They  are  the  "grittiest"  birds 
that  dwell  in  our  land. 

Perhaps  some  brother  sportsman  has  seen  a 
grouse  when  wounded  and  seemingly  crazed,  fly 
straight  upward,  struggling  to  the  last  gasp, 
then  all  at  once  collapse  and  come  tumbling  to 
the  earth  like  a  stone.  Usually  such  birds  are 
found  to  be  shot  through  the  eyes  and  brain.  I 
lost  one  once  in  this  manner,  for  he  fell  into  the 
top  of  a  clump  of  unclimbable  "old  original 


O 

o 

en 
uu 

CO 

D 

O 

ct 

O 

Q 

W 
U- 

u. 

D 
os 


THE  RUFFED  GROUSE  45 

pines"  in  such  a  fashion  that  there  was  no  dis- 
lodging him. 

One  word  as  to  the  Ruffed  Grouse's  habit  be- 
fore the  dog :  I  believe  the  dog  is  the  most  im- 
portant element  in  the  grouse  shooter's  good- 
or  ill-fortune.  I  know  that  many  sportsmen 
berate  our  hero  because  "he  won't  lay  to  a 
dog."  There  are  cases  where  we  cannot  blame 
the  bird.  Neither  you  nor  I  would  stay  in  the 
neighborhood  of  a  dog  which  tears  through  the 
brush  like  an  express  train,  or  whose  master  is 
continually  yelling  commands  and  compliments 
at  his  riotous  brute.  It  is  enough  to  shatter 
stronger  nerves  than  those  of  Mr.  Grouse. 
Alas,  the  language  we  have  heard!  And  that, 
too,  directed  at  dogs  that  a  few  short  hours  be- 
fore were  vaunted  by  their  masters  as  simply 
matchless  in  their  glorious  perfections  of  nose, 
brain  and  "bird-sense." 

For  success  in  grouse-shooting  a  cautious, 
close-working  dog  is  the  most  important  thing 
in  the  outfit ;  one  that  loves  to  pit  his  own  brains 
and  skill  against  the  craft  of  the  bird ;  whose  eye 
is  ever  alert  to  the  slightest  sign  from  his  mas- 
ter, realizing  that  the  gun  also  has  a  part  to 


46  FEATHEBED  GAME 

play  in  the  day's  sport;  who  only  wants  a  low 
whistle  or  a  wave  of  the  hand  for  guidance, 
needing  no  spoken  command.  I  lay  great  stress 
upon  silence,  believing  that  most  wild  creatures 
are  less  afraid  of  the  report  of  a  gun  than  of  the 
human  voice.  The  successful  grouse  dog  is  the 
most  finished  product  of  the  dog  trainer's  art, 
making  glad  the  heart  of  his  master.  If  your 
four-footed  friend  excels  in  his  work  on  ruffed 
grouse  be  satisfied  that  he  is  a  good  performer 
on  any  game  bird,  and  will  never  cause  his  mas- 
ter to  blush  for  him  in  any  company.  ' l  A  mar- 
vel," you  say?  My  dear  sir,  the  only  marvel 
is  that  we  will  not  take  the  pains  to  bring  our 
dogs  to  this  pitch  of  perfection. 

The  good  grouse  dog  is  rare.  Not  every 
puppy  can  be  trained  to  the  requirements.  It 
almost  seems  that  the  good  one  on  ruffed 
grouse,  like  a  poet,  "is  born,  not  made."  Cer- 
tainly poets  are  the  heavier  and  less  valuable 
crop.  Training  will  do  much  for  the  dog,  but 
all  too  often  this  branch  of  his  education  is  con- 
fined to  his  first  experience,  when  with  all  a 
puppy's  life  pulsing  through  his  veins,  his  cup 
of  joy  bubbling  over,  he  comes  suddenly  upon  a 
covey    of    ruffed    grouse.     That    divine    scent 


THE  BUFFED  GROUSE  47 

wells  up  into  bis  nostrils,  and,  wild  with  the 
joy  of  that  soul-stirring  moment,  amazed  at 
their  roaring  wings,  is  it  wonderful  that  he 
does  not  perform  like  a  veteran?  My  sports- 
man friend,  did  you  yourself  score  on  your  first 
hurtling  grouse?  Have  you  always  controlled 
your  startled  nerves,  making  the  most  of  every 
favorable  opportunity?  I  trow  not!  Then 
shall  we  not  have  a  little  patience  and  with 
more  experience  reverse  our  first  unfavorable 
decision?  Maybe  a  good  grouse  dog  is  lost 
there — who  knows?  But  the  puppy  gets  no 
chance  to  atone  for  his  mistake  and  commonly 
is  never  again  allowed  to  look  at  ruffed  grouse 
if  his  master  can  prevent,  so  that  this  is  all  the 
schooling  he  gets  in  the  ways  of  hunting  this 
bird.  His  master,  instead  of  taking  the  pains 
needful  to  teach  his  companion,  becomes  at 
once  a  woodcock  enthusiast  and  condemns  the 
grouse  and  all  who  admire  him,  finishing  the 
puppy's  education  on  "timberdoodles"  alone. 
Yet  it  is  only  a  matter  of  patience  and  tact,  and 
more  of  the  same  patience  and  tact,  but  great  is 
the  reward  thereof! 

Having  in  mind  the  nature  of  ruffed  grouse 
haunts,  the  difficulty  of  two  legs  keeping  pace 


48  FEATHERED  GAME 

with  four,  and  the  ease  with  which  a  hunter  may 
go  wrong  if  his  dog,  for  the  moment  out  of  sight 
in  the  thick  growth,  makes  a  sudden  change  of 
direction  in  the  trailing,  I  believe  that  the  dog 
that  is  never  more  than  forty  yards  from  the 
gun, — better  yet  if  he  keeps  closer  and  no  pot- 
terer  even  if  he  does,  my  dear  unbeliever — 
that  stops  instantly  at  the  first  whiff  of  scent 
that  touches  his  nostrils ;  trails  slowly  and  care- 
fully, knowing  just  how  far  he  may  crowd  his 
game  and  never  overstepping  that  limit, — will 
get  for  his  master  more  and  better  shots  than 
the  more  dashing,  field-trial,  wider  ranging  dog 
of  better  nose  and  even  greater  bird-finding 
ability.  We  all  know,  however,  that  this  latter 
style  is  the  more  fashionable — and  the  more 
common:  Also  that  their  owners  are  very  en- 
thusiastic over  wood-cocking — (and  it  is  a  noble 
sport;  far  be  it  from  me  to  disparage  it) — and 
are  apt  to  speak  disrespectfully  of  the  grouse 
because  it  has  so  little  of  the  accommodating 
disposition  of  their  favorite,  who  generally 
does  his  best  to  help  the  sportsman  score  a  kill, 
even  patiently  waiting  until  the  gunner  can 
hunt  up  his  dog  when  he  has  at  last  ceased 
whistling  and  shouting  and  has  decided  that  his 


THE  RUFFED  GROUSE  49 

prize  beauty  is  "somewhere  on  a  point,  (that  is, 
if  he  hasn't  run  away  clear  out  of  the  county.") 
The  parenthesis,  of  course,  under  his  breath 
along  with  some  other  comments  which  do  not 
sound  as  well.  Now  Mr.  Grouse  does  not  be- 
lieve in  such  tactics :  as  a  result  he  will  be  plan- 
ning his  annual  increase  to  the  game  supply 
long  after  the  moths  have  finished  that  dining 
room  ornament  which  was  "The  last  woodcock 
killed  in  this  section,  Sir!  And  it's  too  bad 
they  were  all  killed  off,  isn't  it?" 

The  Ruffed  Grouse  is  a  great  rover.  When 
the  young  become  strong  and  able  to  fly  well 
the  flocks  roam  through  the  woods  from  one 
feeding  ground  to  another — here  to-day,  to- 
morrow gone.  In  the  fall  they  haunt  the  hard 
wood  growths  along  the  lake  shores,  and  the 
rocky,  oak-grown  margins  of  the  sea,  moving 
from  place  to  place  as  they  tire  of  the  spot  or 
food  begins  to  fail,  crossing  to  near-by  islands, 
for  however  much  they  may  dislike  to  fly 
across  bodies  of  water  in  the  "Big  Woods," 
they  do  not  hesitate  to  make  long  flights  over 
the  small  arms  of  the  sea,  and  in  more  culti- 
vated districts,  flying  on  occasion  a  mile  at  a 
stretch.    As   the   season   advances   they  come 


50  FEATHERED  GAME 

nearer  to  the  farms  and  orchards,  and  old  apple 
trees  in  the  woods  or  a  deserted  orchard  hid- 
den away  from  travelled  roads  and  near  the 
forests  are  favorite  spots  and  much  frequented 
by  them,  as  are  likewise  in  their  proper  season 
the  gullies  where  the  ripe,  red  "thorn  plums" 
are  to  be  had  for  the  picking.  In  berry  and 
fruit  time  their  food  is  almost  entirely  of  this 
sort.  In  fact,  from  his  readiness  to  eat  almost 
any  of  Mother  Nature's  cookery  the  Ruffed 
Grouse  is  in  prime  condition  the  year  around. 

There  is  scarcely  a  game  bird  so  satisfactory 
from  all  points  of  view  as  is  our  hero :  a  brave, 
strong-flying  bird,  a  brainy  and  worthy  an- 
tagonist from  the  sportsman's  standpoint,  and 
in  the  estimation  of  the  epicure  a  great  deli- 
cacy. 

Although  numerous  attempts  have  been  made 
to  domesticate  the  Ruffed  Grouse  nearly  all 
such  have  failed.  The  wild  instincts  of  the  free 
forest  rover  have  usually  triumphed  over  the 
easy  but  dull  round  of  barnyard  life  even  in 
chicks  raised  and  cared  for  by  the  domestic 
hen,  as  they  have  almost  invariably  departed 
for  the  woods  as  soon  as  they  were  able  to  shift 
for  themselves,   or  if  unable   to   escape   have 


THE  WILLOW  GROUSE  51 

pined  away  and  died  for  the  lack  of  their  for- 
est freedom. 

Would  that  someone  might  solve  this  prob- 
lem of  grouse-breeding  if  only  to  aid  in  restock- 
ing our  covers.  But  the  prospect  brightens 
each  year  with  the  education  of  our  people 
and  the  consequent  growing  sentiment  in  favor 
of  rigid  game  protection.  Give  the  Ruffed 
Grouse  half  a  chance  and  he  will  take  care  of 
the  matter  of  future  game  supply.  There  is 
nothing  in  our  wilds  so  thoroughly  able  to  take 
care  of  itself  as  Mr.  Bonasa  Umbellus.  Let  us 
be  duly  thankful  therefor. 


THE    WILLOW    GROUSE.    PTARMIGAN. 

(Lagopus  lagopus.) 

Very  rare  in  New  England.  When  found  it 
is  only  in  the  northernmost  sections  and  in  the 
coldest  weather,  when  a  few  straggle  away 
from  the  great  flocks  which  come  down  out  of 
the  north  at  the  approach  of  winter,  for  it  is 
partially  migratory  and  changes  quarters 
southward  at  this  season.  In  earlier  times 
these  birds  seem  to  have  been  not  uncommon  in 
northern    and    eastern    Maine    in    the    winter 


52  FEATHERED  GAME 

months,  but  of  late  years  very  rarely  indeed  is 
one  taken. 

The  Willow  Grouse  inhabits  a  wide  range  of 
country,  including  the  northern  parts  of  Eu- 
rope and  Asia  and  the  whole  of  North  America 
from  the  northern  boundary  of  the  United 
States  far  into  the  Arctic  regions,  in  summer 
spreading  out  over  the  almost  treeless  "barren 
lands"  which  extend  along  the  shores  of  the 
Arctic  ocean,  and  in  winter  retreating  to  the 
shelter  of  the  thick  woods  which  stretch  away 
northwesterly  mile  after  mile  across  Canada 
from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific. 

It  is  a  dweller  on  the  rocky  heaths  and 
swampy  grounds,  and  not  so  fond  of  the  woods 
as  are  most  northern  grouse.  As  a  rule,  the 
Ptarmigan  takes  to  the  forests  only  when 
obliged  to  do  so  for  safety  or  when  driven  by 
stress  of  weather,  coming  out  into  the  openings 
as  soon  as  ever  the  sun  gets  a  bit  of  ground  un- 
covered in  the  spring. 

During  the  summer  months  they  live  upon 
berries  and  insects.  Through  the  long  Arctic 
winter  they  subsist  on  the  buds  of  the  brush 
and  dwarfed  willows  which  are  scattered 
through  the  frozen  bogs. 

They  are  somewhat  nocturnal  in  their  habits, 


C/) 

D 

O 

OS 

c 
o 


THE  WILLOW  GROUSE  53 

mostly  preferring  to  feed  about  sundown  or 
during  the  night. 

In  their  breeding  habits  they  resemble  the 
rest  of  the  family,  building  their  nests  upon  the 
ground,  generally  at  the  base  of  some  great 
rock  or  in  a  clump  of  stunted  birches  or  Arctic 
willows  or  at  the  edge  of  an  opening  in  the 
woods.  They  lay  from  eight  to  ten  eggs,  of  a 
buff  color,  heavily  blotched  with  dark  red- 
brown  spots. 

Unlike  the  ruffed  grouse  Mr.  Ptarmigan  is  a 
good  husband  and  assists  in  the  upbringing  of 
his  offspring, — rather  an  unusual  thing  among 
the  grouse  family,  where  as  a  rule  the  male  is 
a  polygamous  old  rascal,  perhaps  because  he  is 
unable  to  choose  between  the  fair  ones  and  so 
plays  no  favorites.  Therefore  when  disturbed 
with  their  young  instead  of  resorting  to  the 
craft  and  strategems  of  the  "partridge"  in 
similar  stress,  the  male  bird  will  dash  about  the 
head  of  an  intruder,  in  his  desperate  attack 
coming  near  enough  to  be  killed  with  a  stick  if 
one  be  mean  enough  to  do  such  a  thing.  All  this 
time  the  young  are  running  away  and  hiding  in 
obedience  to  the  mother  bird's  anxious  warn- 
ings. 

Fortunately    for    them    their    enemies    are 


54  FEATHERED  GAME 

nearly  all  in  fur  and  feathers,  the  Arctic  fox 
and  snowy  owl,  though  the  Indian  takes  a  gen- 
erous share,  generally  during  the  fall  migra- 
tions, when,  as  they  are  easily  trapped,  the 
Ptarmigan  becomes  an  important  item  in  his 
diet.  Since  they  dwell  in  a  country  full  of 
larger  game  and  because  of  their  distance  from 
sportsmen  of  shot-gun  propensities,  they  are 
not  much  hunted,  but  those  sportsmen  who 
have  made  shooting  trips  to  Newfoundland 
have  enjoyed  rare  sport  with  them  and  are  en- 
thusiastic in  their  praise.  They  claim  that  the 
Ptarmigan  is  equal  to  any  of  the  grouse  family 
in  game  qualities  and  speak  highly  of  its  habits 
before  the  dog.  Its  flesh,  also,  ranks  well,  that 
of  the  young  bird  being  especially  delicate. 

When  they  rise  from  the  ground  their  wings 
do  not  make  such  a  clatter  as  do  those  of  the 
ruffed  grouse  when  he  starts, — probably  be- 
cause of  the  soft  and  fluffy  quality  of  the  feath- 
ers,— but  their  flight  is  easy,  strong  and  well 
sustained. 

Their  plumage  during  the  breeding  season 
and  summer  months  is  a  mixture  of  white  and 
reddish  brown,  finely  barred  with  black.  No 
two  specimens  will  be  found  to  be  marked  ex- 


THE  WILLOW  GROUSE  55 

actly  alike.  The  dress  of  each  bird  is  contin- 
ually changing, — (they  moult  three  times  a 
year) — varying  the  proportion  of  each  colored 
area  and  seeming  to  put  on  the  new  coat  a 
feather  at  a  time  before  the  last  suit  is  fairly 
donned.  In  winter  they  are  snow  white  ex- 
cept the  tail  feathers,  which  are  black,  white 
tipped,  and  the  wing  quill  shafts,  also  black. 
There  is  a  red  patch  above  the  eye  as  in  the 
spruce  grouse.  The  legs  and  feet  are  covered, 
even  down  to  the  ends  of  the  toes,  with  fine, 
hair-like  feathers  which  make  them  a  good  pair 
of  snow  shoes.  It  needs  sharp  eyes  to  see  them 
where  they  crouch  in  the  snow  when  clad  in 
their  winter  garb,  lying  motionless  in  the  drifts, 
or  when  in  summer  their  coat  of  reddish  brown 
matches  so  well  the  dead  grass  and  bare  rocks 
of  their  chosen  wilderness. 

If  pursued  they  may  dash  off  to  a  safe  dis- 
tance, then  coming  to  earth  may  run  a  little 
way,  then  suddenly  squat  upon  the  ground,  re- 
maining motionless  until  the  danger  has  passed 
or  they  are  forced  to  fly  to  prevent  capture.  If 
the  snow  be  on  the  ground  they  may  dash  head- 
long into  the  loose  drifts,  making  their  way 
well  into  them,  to  remain  hidden;  or  mayhap 


56  FEATHERED  GAME 

passing  some  distance  through  them  to  creep 
carefully  out  and  fly  noiselessly  away  when 
safe  to  do  so.  They  often  dive  into  the  snow 
for  shelter  or  to  pass  the  night  in  winter,  dash- 
ing into  it  from  the  air  and  working  their  way 
far  under  the  drifts  for  safety's  sake.  They 
are  said  to  be  very  careful  not  to  touch  their 
feet  to  the  snow  in  entering  it  in  this  little  piece 
of  strategy,  in  order  not  to  leave  a  scent  for 
any  prowling  fox  to  trace  them  out. 

In  size  the  Willow  Grouse  is  a  trifle  smaller 
than  the  spruce  grouse — (length  about  four- 
teen inches) — but  its  heavily  feathered  body 
looks  larger  than  it  really  is. 

Out  of  the  ten  different  races  of  Ptarmigans, 
many  so  nearly  alike  that  even  a  scientist  can- 
not always  name  them  to  a  certainty  without 
the  knowledge  of  the  locality  in  which  a  speci- 
men was  taken,  this  is  the  only  visitor  to  New 
England,  and  this  one  but  rarely. 

The  bird  at  the  left  in  the  plate  is  in  the  win- 
ter dress;  the  bird  at  the  right  is  in  the  sum- 
mer plumage. 


THE  "QUAIL"  57 


THE  "QUAIL."    BOB  WHITE. 
PARTRIDGE. 

(Colinus  virginianus.) 

Because  of  the  wide  extent  of  country  over 
which  he  dwells,  and  because  of  his  large  ac- 
quaintance among  the  shooting  fraternity  the 
"Quail"  may  make  a  strong  claim  for  the 
honor  of  being  the  prime  game  bird  of  America 
— the  bird  known  and  with  good  reason  appre- 
ciated by  the  largest  number  of  our  sportsmen. 
There  are  many  good  reasons  for  this  popular- 
ity, chief  of  which  are  his  thoroughly  game 
habits,  close  lying  before  the  dog,  beautifully 
direct  flight,  and  the  comparatively  open  na- 
ture of  the  country  in  which  he  is  usually  found. 
All  these  combine  to  make  quail-shooting  mag- 
nificent sport. 

"Bob  White,"  as  he  gives  us  his  name  in  his 
merrier  moods,  is  found  on  the  continent  of 
North  America  from  the  Atlantic  ocean  to  the 
Rocky  mountains,  from  Canada  to  the  Gulf, 
has  crossed  the  border  into  the  northern  states 
of  the  Mexican  Republic,  and  is  a  citizen  of  the 
island  of  Cuba.     The  bird  has  also  been  intro- 


58  FEATHERED  GAME 

duced  into  several  localities  west  of  the  Rockies 
and  is  said  to  be  thriving  and  flourishing  in 
these  new  homes. 

Unhappily  for  the  sportsmen  of  Maine,  New 
Hampshire  and  Vermont,  in  New  England  the 
Quail  is  resident  only  in  the  southern  part,  and 
is  at  any  season  but  a  rare  straggler  northward 
of  Massachusetts.  It  is  likely  that  our  winter 
weather  is  too  severe  for  him,  or  it  may  be 
that  we  lack  grains  and  seeds  for  him  to  feed 
upon  when  the  snows  have  come.  At  all  events, 
though  the  sportsmen's  clubs  of  these  sections 
have  often  liberated  Quails  in  the  hope  that 
they  might  thus  make  a  valuable  addition  to 
our  list  of  game  birds,  they  have  rarely  stayed 
with  us  longer  than  the  first  season,  raising 
our  hopes  with  their  cheerful  whistling  through 
one  brief  summer  and  then  disappearing  to 
return  no  more.  Whether  they  have  moved 
southward  at  the  approach  of  cold  weather  (by 
no  means  an  unusual  occurrence  in  the  north, 
I  think)  or  have  failed  to  survive  the  winter, 
seems  to  be  an  open  question.  It  is  probable 
that  the  former  is  often  the  true  reason  for 
their  disappearance,  for  with  the  small  chance  of 
a  grain  or  seed  diet  when  New  England's  winter 


THE  " QUAIL"  59 

has  fairly  closed  in  upon  us,  their  prospect  for 
food  must  be  slight  indeed,  and,  knowing  this, 
Bob  White  takes  no  chances.  In  most  cases 
the  birds  for  stocking  our  covers  have  been  ob- 
tained from  southern  localities,  which  fact 
would  seem  to  argue  a  less  fitness  to  endure 
the  rigors  of  our  winters.  If  the  experiment 
were  to  be  tried  with  birds  procured  from  the 
northern  part  of  the  habitat  of  the  Quail  per- 
haps the  result  would  be  more  satisfactory; 
surely  there  would  be  a  larger  percentage  to 
survive  the  winter  among  those  that  remained 
with  us.  It  is  probable  that  such  birds  could 
be  successfully  transplanted  here,  needing  only 
a  chance  to  forage  in  some  buckwheat  field  dur- 
ing the  two  coldest  months.  (Just  notice  how 
rarely  a  Quail  is  found  frozen  to  death  with 
a  full  crop.)  At  all  other  seasons  they  would 
surely  be  bountifully  supplied  with  everything 
necessary  to  Quail  comfort.  "Bob  White" 
has  been  successfully  transplanted  into  Sweden, 
and  it  certainly  seems  as  though  he  ought  to  do 
as  well  in  northern  New  England.  But  where 
we  have  failed  Dame  Nature  is  doing  better, 
and  little  by  little  these  birds  are  becoming  ac- 
customed to  our  climate  and  conditions  and  are 


60  FEATHERED  GAME 

gradually  spreading  northward  as  well  as  west- 
ward. We  northerners  may  well  be  pleased  to 
gain  such  gallant  little  citizens.  In  these  new 
surroundings  they  are  said  to  be  taking  more 
and  more  to  grouse  habits,  both  in  strategy  and 
in  mode  of  life,  evincing  a  disposition  to  hide  in 
trees  when  much  harried,  and  for  the  night — 
traits  which  are  not  common  further  south. 

All  through  the  fall  and  winter  months  the 
birds  keep  together  in  good-sized  flocks,  but 
at  the  approach  of  the  breeding  season  the  peace 
and  quiet  of  the  covey  is  changed  for  fierce  and 
savage  contests  among  the  males  in  strife  for 
the  favors  of  their  charmers.  The  covey  be- 
gins to  break  up,  and  as  each  valiant  little 
knight  wins  his  fair  lady  by  force  of  arms  they 
seek  together  some  fitting  nook  in  the  fence 
corner  or  in  the  edge  of  the  brush  and  there 
make  their  home.  About  May  they  begin  to 
build  their  nest,  making  it  upon  the  ground,  of 
leaves  and  dry  grasses.  Often  it  is  deep  and 
cup-shaped,  sometimes  domed  over  and  hav- 
ing an  entrance  on  the  side.  The  number  of 
eggs  varies.  Probably  ten  youngsters  to  a 
brood  is  a  liberal  estimate  for  the  north,  though 
anywhere  from  twelve  to  twenty  eggs  or  even 


THE  "QUAIL"  61 

more  may  be  found  in  a  nest,  in  which  case  they 
are  arranged  in  tiers  with  the  small  ends  inward 
and  downward.  Usually  the  larger  settings 
are  the  result  of  "co-operative  housekeeping" 
when  two  females  use  the  same  nest.  Good 
husband  that  he  is,  the  male  bird  does  his 
share  of  the  duties  of  incubation  as  well  as 
keeping  watch  while  the  female  sits.  He  also 
aids  in  the  care  of  the  young  when  they  have 
made  their  appearance,  covering  them  with 
wings  and  body  in  the  same  fashion  as  does 
the  female,  and  in  case  of  danger  to  the  brood 
boldly  confronts  the  enemy  while  the  mother 
bird  conducts  the  retreat.  If  the  female  is 
alone  at  such  times  she  acts  much  as  does  the 
ruffed  grouse  in  a  like  crisis,  feigning  to  be 
crippled  and  keeping  just  out  of  the  reach  of 
her  pursuer  she  leads  him  a  long  chase,  sud- 
denly recovering  and  dashing  away  if  the  pur- 
suit is  too  close.  The  brood  meantime  scatters 
in  a  dozen  different  directions,  gathering  again 
when  the  old  bird  sounds  the  "assembly." 
After  the  young  birds  have  gained  more 
strength  all  this  is  easily  avoided  by  their  tak- 
ing to  wing — each  one  heading  for  the  nearest 
growth  and  seeking  concealment  in  the  brush. 


62  FEATHERED  GAME 

In  the  Southern  States  it  is  likely  that  two 
broods  are  sometimes  raised  in  a  season  but 
this  is  certainly  not  the  rule  in  New  England. 
Where  this  does  occur  the  male  assumes  all  re- 
sponsibility for  the  first  brood,  thus  leaving 
his  mate  free  to  care  for  the  newcomers. 

During  the  summer  Bob  White  leads  a  merry, 
happy-go-lucky  life,  with  few,  if  any  cares,  but 
the  winter  months  for  such  as  remain  in  New 
England  after  the  fall  shooting  is  over  must 
be  a  dreary  time  of  hardship  and  hunger.  In 
many  cases  they  wander  away  to  more  favored 
districts  further  south.  All  through  the  north- 
ern range  there  seems  to  be  a  partial  migra- 
tion of  Quail  southward  at  the  approach  of  win- 
ter— not  all,  but  a  part  of  the  Quail  population 
leaving  their  summer  homes  until  the  spring 
commences.  Those  which  remain  to  brave  our 
snow  and  cold  are  apt  to  haunt  the  settlements 
and  the  outskirts  of  the  villages,  often  inviting 
themselves  to  breakfast  with  the  farmer's  hens 
and  becoming  for  the  time  quite  tame.  The 
Quail  has  been  domesticated  with  much  success 
and  breeds  quite  readily  in  captivity. 

Though  not  brilliantly  colored  "Bob  White" 
is  a  beautiful  bird.     His  back  and  wings  are 


c—1 

X 

en 
O 

X) 


THE  "QUAIL"  63 

of  a  reddish  brown  hue,  mottled  and  banded 
with  yellow,  black,  and  a  bluish  gray,  which 
gives  his  plumage  a  purplish  bloom.  His 
breast  is  of  the  same  reddish  tinge,  fading  into 
a  grayish  white,  these  colors  irregularly  barred 
with  fine  jet  black  lines.  The  feathers  of  the 
top  of  the  head  are  a  trifle  elongated  and  may 
be  erected  into  a  slight  crest.  A  white  band 
beginning  at  the  base  of  the  bill  runs  over  each 
eye  to  the  nape.  On  the  throat  is  a  broad 
patch  of  snowy  white,  bordered  with  black, 
as  is  also  the  line  above  the  eye,  just  men- 
tioned. 

The  female  is  similarly  marked,  though  paler 
in  hue,  and  the  lines  over  the  eyes  and  the  patch 
on  the  throat  are  dull  yellow.  The  male  bird 
is  about  ten  inches  long,  and  in  extent  of  wings 
fifteen  inches;  female  a  trifle  smaller.  Weight 
averages  between  six  and  eight  ounces. 

"Bob  White"  varies  much  in  his  shading 
and  depth  of  color  in  the  different  parts  of  his 
range.  In  general  the  northern  Quail  is  larger, 
stronger  of  flight  and  rather  more  brilliantly 
colored  than  the  bird  of  the  south  and  south- 
west; the  Bob  White  of  the  last  named  section 
is  especially  pale  in  coloring.     But  even  in  the 


64  FEATHERED  GAME 

same  covey  are  found  birds  differing  widely  in 
degree  of  coloring. 

"Bob  White"  starts  up  in  the  morning, 
shakes  out  his  feathers,  and  leaving  the  little 
circle  which  with  his  mates  he  has  formed  for 
the  night — heads  outward,  everyone,  so  that 
each  member  shall  have  plenty  of  space  for  ac- 
tion if  forced  to  fly — he  trips  away  across  the 
dewy  fields  for  his  favorite  feeding  grounds. 
Here  he  arrives  about  the  time  the  sun  has 
warmed  the  air  and  the  world  has  fairly  thrown 
off  its  slumber.  Across  the  sunny  meadows  he 
takes  his  way,  pausing  to  pick  a  berry  here, 
and  gathering  in  now  a  cricket,  now  a  grass- 
hopper, and  putting  away  a  good  breakfast 
with  a  hearty  relish.  The  ripening  wheat,  the 
buckwheat  fields,  or  the  corn-patch,  if  it  is  in 
a  quiet  place,  is  likely  to  receive  a  visit  from 
him.  In  fact,  almost  any  spot,  whether  brush 
or  open,  is  apt  to  hold  him  if  there  is  a  dainty 
there  which  he  appreciates. 

The  quail  man's  heart  is  glad:  there  is  a  lull 
in  the  money-getting  and  he  finds  again  a 
chance  to  tread  the  fields  and  brushy  corners 
so  dear  from  the  memories  of  glorious  days  of 
sport.     His  hour  has  come  at  last.     Over  the 


THE  " QUAIL"  65 

fence  the  sportsman  goes,  his  dog  all  a-wrig- 
gle  with  joy.  Toiling  to  keep  up  and  envying 
his  comrade  that  extra  pair  of  legs,  the  man 
ploughs  through  the  briars  and  pushes  his  way 
through  thick-growing  alder  clumps  along  the 
springy  gullies,  into  the  birches — the  same 
haunts  which  charm  the  grouse — and  strides 
down  the  fence  line,  broad-margined  with  its 
tangle  of  weeds,  rosebriars  and  blackberry 
bushes,  with  scrubby  pines  and  young  trees  of 
various  sorts  growing  along  its  devious  way. 
A  gravelly  path  across  the  fields  lies  athwart 
the  pointer's  track  and  as  he  runs  the  tell-tale 
scent  suddenly  reaches  the  quivering  high-lifted 
nostrils.  He  plows  the  sand  with  all  four  feet 
in  the  effort  to  stop,  then  wheels  at  right  angles 
and  draws  on  a  few  steps  to  halt  with  tense 
muscles  and  glaring  eyes.  He  has  them !  The 
sportsman  pauses  to  admire  the  scene  before 
the  spell  is  broken,  and  his  heart  throbs  high 
with  pleasure  and  pride  in  the  performance  of 
this,  his  chief  est  jewel.  Then  at  his  close  ap- 
proach, with  the  rustle  and  roar  of  many  striv- 
ing pinions  the  air  is  suddenly  filled  with  fly- 
ing forms — little  balls  of  brown  with  a  haze 
at  each  side  where   are  their  buzzing  wings. 


66  FEATHERED  GAME 

Each  in  a  different  course  they  bustle  away 
and  in  his  haste  the  novice  mayhap  "  shoots  into 
the  bunch,"  to  find  to  his  surprise  that  there 
is  a  whole  lot  of  sky  with  no  Quail  flying  in  it. 
The  veteran  usually,  but  not  invariably,  re- 
members to  choose  a  bird  and  may  get  one  with 
each  barrel.  Because  of  their  close  lying  the 
bulk  of  the  shots  are  straight  away  and  so  are 
fairly  easy,  but  the  cross  shots  at  short  range 
— 0,  my!  Still,  all  in  all,  I  think  quail  shoot- 
ing is  easier  than  any  wood  shooting  in  New 
England  at  grouse  or  'cock,  partly  because 
Mr.  Quail  seldom,  if  ever,  uses  that  favorite 
trick  of  Bonasa,  tangling  his  enemy's  legs 
into  a  knot  as  he  tries  to  follow  the  bird's 
swift  circle  around  the  shooter's  head.  Sev- 
eral times  I  have  seen  shooting  companions 
thus  caught  with  legs  askew  sit  down  suddenly 
from  the  recoil  of  their  weapons  in  an  attempt 
to  stop  a  curling  grouse.  Kills  are  few  in 
such  cases.  Then,  too,  the  woodcock's  tower- 
ing start  and  erratic  course  when  alarmed  is 
to  most  sportsmen  a  much  more  difficult  propo- 
sition than  the  bee-line  directness  of  Bob  White. 
As  a  rule  when  a  covey  is  flushed  they  fly 
only  a  few  hundred  yards.     Perhaps  next  time 


THE  "QUAIL"  67 

they  scatter  in  every  direction  when  started 
from  the  ground  and  may  then  be  picked  up  in 
detail.  In  most  cases  the  covey  keeps  to  one 
particular  neighborhood,  rarely  going  far 
away,  and  may  usually  be  found  when  wanted. 
In  the  early  part  of  the  season  they  are  likely 
to  be  found  in  the  brushy  covers,  but  at  the 
close  are  oftener  in  the  open. 

While  it  lasts  the  Quail's  flight  is  a  terrific 
burst  of  speed.  It  requires  more  than  ordin- 
ary shooting  ability  to  make  a  good  average  of 
birds  in  proportion  to  the  number  of  cartridges 
used;  especially  is  this  so  in  the  thick  covert. 
He  will  carry  off  a  good  load  of  shot,  too,  will 
Mr.  Quail,  for  the  little  fellow  has  that  high 
order  of  courage,  the  heritage  of  his  family, 
which  keeps  him  still  doing  his  best  just  so  long 
as  he  can  flutter  a  feather.  In  quail  shooting 
in  the  open,  however,  it  seems  as  though  a 
good  "clay-bird"  shot  should  account  for  a 
fair  percentage  of  his  cartridges,  since  the 
gamey  "bluerock"  flies  much  like  the  Quail. 

Much  has  been  said  of  the  Quail's  ability  to 
"retain  his  scent."  May  it  not  be  that  the 
bird  is  only  trying  to  conceal  itself  and  by  hug- 
ging  its   feathers   closely   and   never   stirring 


68  FEATHERED  GAME 

from  the  spot  on  which  it  has  alighted  thus  re- 
duces its  body  scent  to  a  minimum  and  leaves 
no  footscent  to  assist  its  enemy?  The  best  of 
dogs  may  sometimes  walk  straight  through  a 
covey  thus  hidden  and  unless  some  frightened 
bird  stirs  or  breaks  away  he  has  little  chance 
of  discovering  their  presence.  Whether  the 
bird  is  voluntarily  "witholding  its  scent"  or 
is  merely  making  itself  as  small  as  possible  in 
order  to  avoid  detection  in  this  hugging  the 
feathers  down  is  an  open  question.  There  is 
no  doubt  that  dogs  are  sometimes  unaccount- 
ably at  fault  in  such  cases.  I  have  seen  some- 
thing similar  in  the  woodcock  covers,  when  a 
woodcock,  killed  cleanly  in  the  air  and  fallen 
into  a  slight  hollow  in  the  ground,  its  wings 
folded  close  to  its  sides,  head  and  beak  under- 
neath, has  made  a  good  dog  some  minutes' 
work  to  locate  it.  But  when  with  the  gunbar- 
rels  the  bird  was  stirred  ever  so  slightly,  the 
dog  hunting  fifteen  yards  away,  puzzled  and 
totally  at  loss,  wheeled  to  a  point  on  the  instant 
and  came  quickly  in  and  retrieved  the  bird. 
Even  the  ruffed  grouse  gets  credit  for  the  same 
thing  in  less  measure,  because  she  is  very  care- 
ful in  her  manner  of  approaching  and  leaving 


THE  " QUAIL"  69 

her  nest,  nearly  always  coming  up  on  the  wing 
and  alighting  almost  in  it,  and  when  leaving 
making  a  flight  as  soon  as  she  is  fairly  clear  of 
her  eggs.  Rarely,  indeed,  does  she  walk  to  or 
from  her  treasures,  so  that  she  may  leave  no 
trail  for  her  enemies  to  follow  to  her  undoing. 
Of  course  in  all  these  cases  the  bird's  scent  is 
much  less  because  of  the  thorough  airing  out 
which  the  feathers  get  in  their  hustling  flight, 
but  I  much  doubt  any  ability  to  withold  their 
scent  in  either  one  of  them.  In  the  case  of  the 
Quails  more  often  than  not  it  is  the  fault  of 
the  shooter  in  his  carelessness  in  marking  or 
of  the  dog  in  his  lack  of  nose  than  that  the 
birds  have  "retained  their  scent."  However, 
should  this  strange  disappearance  of  the  birds 
occur  it  is  only  a  matter  of  waiting  until  they 
have  begun  to  move  about, — as  they  will  in  a 
very  short  time — in  order  to  get  good  shooting 
at  the  scattered  members  of  the  bevy.  Once 
the  flock  has  been  well  broken  up  the  single 
birds  usually  hug  the  ground  very  closely 
when  the  dog  has  found  them.  I  have  almost 
caught  one  in  my  hand  thinking  it  a  bird  which 
I  had  just  seen  fall  and  which  lay  within  six 
feet  of  it. 


70       FEATHERED  GAME 


THE  BEETLEHEAD  PLOVER.  BLACK- 
BREASTED  PLOVER. 

(Squatarola  squatarola.) 

The  Beetlehead!  What  visions  of  blue 
water,  barren  sandbars,  seaweed-covered 
ledges,  and  lonely,  wind-swept,  desolate  islands 
this  name  brings  up  to  the  shore  gunner's 
mind!  What  pictures  of  splendid  birds  flash- 
ing over  the  water  or  scaling  down  in  swift 
career  to  the  sandy  margins  where  the  sea  is 
ever  breaking,  and  the  wary  visitors  feeding, 
ready  at  a  sign  of  danger  to  take  wing  and 
away.  Cautious  and  vigilant  to  the  last  degree 
and  very  keen  of  sight,  they  are  the  most  intelli- 
gent of  their  family  and  among  those  least  often 
captured  by  the  New  England  gunner  in  spite 
of  their  comparatively  large  numbers. 

Among  the  best  known  of  the  shorebird  fam- 
ily is  this  large  and  strikingly  appareled  bird, 
called  also  (for,  because  of  its  wide  dispersion 
this  species  is  distinguished  by  many  titles)  the 
Black-breasted  Plover,  Whistling  Field  Plover, 
Ox-Eye,  Swiss  Plover,  Bull  Head  and  Chuckle- 
head,  these  last  two  from  his  somewhat  heavy 


THE  BEETLEHEAD  PLOVER       71 

and  stocky  head  and  neck,  and  not  in  the  slur- 
ring manner  in  which  these  names  are  com- 
monly used.  But  whatever  the  name  he  is  one 
that  commands  the  hearty  admiration  of  the 
sportsman,  and  well  may  the  Beetlehead  be 
appreciated,  both  in  the  lonely  places  where  he 
dwells  and  at  the  table,  for  he  is  one  of  the 
finest  of  our  shorebirds  in  the  qualities  which 
the  marsh  gunner  prizes,  as  well  as  a  sweet 
morsel  for  the  epicure. 

They  are  principally  seen  on  our  shores  dur- 
ing the  migrations,  coming  in  large  flocks  dur- 
ing the  latter  part  of  April  and  the  first  of 
May,  northward  bound  to  their  breeding 
grounds,  returning  in  smaller  bunches  from 
August  through  September  and  the  first  half 
of  October,  going  as  far  south  for  winter  quar- 
ters as  the  West  Indies  and  sometimes  even  to 
Brazil.  Their  migratory  flights  mainly  take 
place  at  night,  the  birds  resting  and  feeding 
during  the  day. 

During  the  spring  flights  they  are  for  a  short 
time  abundant  on  our  coasts.  Caring  little  for 
the  muddy  flats  and  even  less  for  the  marsh- 
lands, they  feed  along  the  rocky  shores  and 
bare   sea   beaches,   dashing  in   upon   each   re- 


72  FEATHERED  GAME 

treating  wave  to  seize  the  choice  bits  thrown 
up  and  stranded  on  the  edges.  They  run 
nimbly  and  gracefully  about  in  an  eager 
scramble  for  their  rations,  searching  seaweed 
and  drift  stuff  for  the  myriad  wrigglers  found 
therein.  Yet,  let  the  gunner  peep  ever  so  care- 
fully over  the  edge  of  the  bank  where  he  lies 
hidden  and  each  wary  feeder  becomes  at  once 
a  motionless  statue.  Had  he  not  seen  their 
animation  a  moment  before  he  might  think  he 
had  come  upon  a  wooden  congregation  of  de- 
coys. "While  he  is  still  they  make  no  move- 
ment, but  let  him  stir,  either  for  nearer  ap- 
proach or  to  draw  back  from  view  that  he  may 
get  a  better  position,  and  the  instant  his  head 
goes  out  of  sight  behind  the  long  salt  grass 
the  flock  noiselessly  takes  wing  with  easy, 
graceful  flight,  alighting  some  hundreds  of 
yards  away  to  feed  comfortably  until  the  dan- 
gerous admirer,  with  stealthy  caution  and  much 
toilsome  trudging  through  the  shifting  sand 
dunes  once  more  approaches  too  near  for 
safety,  when  the  same  performance  again  takes 
place.  It  makes  little  difference  how  the  ap- 
proach is  managed,  the  result  is  generally  the 
same;  the  gunner  peers  cautiously  at  the  spot 


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THE  BEETLEHEAD  PLOVER        73 

where  a  moment  since  the  flock  was  busily 
feeding,  and  seeing  them  not,  soon  discovers 
them  two  hundred  yards  away,  apparently  just 
as  ready  to  tease  him  as  before.  They  seem 
less  suspicious  of  a  boat,  however,  and  will 
sometimes  permit  a  gunner  to  get  within  easy 
range  in  this  way.  The  smaller  flocks  in  the 
fall  will  decoy  quite  readily  or  come  with  eager 
questionings  to  the  mimicry  of  their  whistling 
note. 

By  the  middle  of  June  they  are  nearly  all  on 
their  breeding  grounds,  mostly  in  those  ice- 
bound regions  of  the  north,  where  the  lonely 
wastes  for  a  few  brief  months  are  warmed  by 
the  sun  into  a  semblance  of  summer.  Here  are 
the  homes  of  the  myriads  of  birds  whose  pass- 
ing hosts  spend  a  brief  season  in  our  land  to 
feed  and  rest  from  their  journey ings.  Among 
these  the  Beetleheads  are  numbered,  and  in 
such  solitudes  their  young  families  are  reared 
and  trained  up  to  the  strength  needful  for  their 
long  flights. 

A  shallow  hole  scooped  out  in  the  sand  and 
lined  with  dry  grass  and  moss  constitutes  the 
home  of  this,  the  finest  of  the  plover  family; 
and  the  nest,  when  ready  for  the  hatching,  us- 


74  FEATHERED  GAME 

ually  contains  four  drab  or  clay-colored  eggs 
with  dark  brown  splashes  upon  them.  The 
nesting  season  begins  about  the  first  to  the  mid- 
dle of  May,  and  by  August,  or  even  earlier, 
straggling  birds  have  begun  their  wanderings, 
moving  lazily  and  comfortably  from  place  to 
place  along-shore.  Often  parties  of  them  lin- 
ger in  our  borders  until  fairly  "warned  out" 
by  the  frosts  of  approaching  winter. 

These  are  more  maritime  than  are  the  golden 
plovers,  which  mainly  make  their  migrations 
overland.  The  Beetleheads  seem  to  prefer  the 
sea-coasts  for  their  travels,  it  may  be  for  safety, 
perhaps  also  for  the  certainty  of  abundant 
food.  They  are  sometimes  fairly  numerous  in- 
land during  the  fall  months,  making  "short 
cuts,"  maybe,  in  order  to  favor  the  younger 
travellers.  Northern  and  eastern  New  Eng- 
land is  not  so  well  acquainted  with  this  bird, 
the  greater  part  of  the  flights,  both  spring  and 
fall,  passing  us  by  in  a  direct  course  over  the 
water  between  the  southern  cape  of  Nova  Sco- 
tia and  Cape  Cod.  Comparatively  few  of  the 
migrant  waders  visit  the  coast  line  between 
these  points.  The  few  that  do  so  are  mostly 
birds  which  have  bred  within  our  borders  or 


THE  BEETLEHEAD  PLOVER         75 

passersby  driven  inshore  by  the  southeast 
storms  so  eagerly  looked  for  by  the  marsh-  and 
bay-gunners  of  these  waters.  Thus,  while  we 
seldom  get  any  shooting  at  shore-birds  here  be- 
fore the  middle  of  August  or  the  first  of  Sep- 
tember, our  brother  sportsmen  of  Massa- 
chusetts commonly  have  good  sport  on  plover 
and  curlew  as  early  as  the  middle  of  July. 

The  Beetleheads,  as  are  the  other  "bay 
snipe"  on  Cape  Cod,  are  mostly  shot  from 
blinds  and  over  decoys  set  out  on  the  sea  beaches 
— the  blind  usually  a  pit  in  the  sand  with  the 
gunner  lying  quietly  hidden  until  the  game  has 
come  in  close.  Large  bags  of  the  various  kinds 
of  plover  and  curlew  are  often  made  in  this 
fashion,  for  as  the  compact  flocks  wheel  over  the 
"tolers"  and  turn  to  leave  when  they  discover 
the  cheat  they  give  the  most  favorable  oppor- 
tunity for  the  experienced  bay-man  to  rake  their 
ranks  with  deadly  effect. 

They  make  a  pretty  picture  as  the  flocks 
sweep  rapidly  past  in  close  order,  with  clear 
and  musical  call,  the  sharply  contrasted  blacks 
and  whites  of  their  plumage  alternately  show- 
ing and  being  hidden  by  the  swiftly  moving 
wings  as  they  career  along,  now  slanting  to 


76  FEATHERED  GAME 

the  right,  now  veering  to  the  left,  now  the  jet 
black  breasts,  now  the  gray  backs  and  the  white 
spots  on  the  rumps  and  tail  coverts  showing 
like  foamy  fleckings  from  the  breakers  over 
which  they  skim.  To  my  mind  this  is  the  prince 
of  all  the  plover  tribe — the  worthiest  member 
of  a  noble  family. 

Probably  the  Beetlehead  is  the  fleetest  of 
wing  among  the  bay  birds,  the  ''golden"  being 
the  only  one  having  the  right  to  challenge  his 
title. 

Many  gnnners  confuse  this  bird  with  the 
golden  plover,  and  indeed  the  two  are  much 
alike,  yet  in  addition  to  the  Beetlehead 's  greater 
size  there  is  one  marked  difference  on  which  the 
species  is  founded  and  which  makes  the  Beetle- 
head  unmistakable  in  any  plumage — he  has  a 
hind  toe,  small  and  rudimentary,  'tis  true,  but 
plainly  showing  in  every  one  of  the  species. 
The  "golden,"  as  is  the  case  of  all  our  other 
true  plovers,  lacks  this.  For  his  other  mark- 
ings, in  his  full  dress  uniform — (we  all  want 
our  pictures  taken  in  our  wedding  clothes,  and 
so,  it  is  likely,  does  our  beautiful  visitor)  — 
above  the  Beetlehead  is  colored  with  a  mixture 
of   black,   dusky   gray  and  white,   the  darker 


THE  BEETLEHEAD  PLOVER        77 

shades  prevailing  in  the  centres  and  the  white 
mostly  on  the  tips  and  edges  of  the  feathers. 
The  upper  tail  coverts  white  with  but  little 
of  the  dark  shading ;  forehead,  crown  and  down 
the  side  of  the  neck  snow  white,  as  are  also  the 
linings  of  the  wings,  under  tail  coverts,  tibiae 
and  vent.  The  tail  is  barred  with  black  and 
white.  Sides  of  the  head  as  far  back  as  the 
eye,  side  of  the  neck,  breast  and  remaining  un- 
der parts,  primaries,  axillary  plumes,  bill,  legs 
and  feet  are  black.  Male  and  female  are 
marked  alike  though  the  lady  may  have  brown- 
ish tones  in  the  blacks.  Comparatively  few 
gunners  are  acquainted  with  him  in  this  plum- 
age, knowing  him  better  in  his  fall  dress  of 
mottled  black  and  white,  when  the  breast  mark- 
ing is  somewhat  dingier  and  does  not,  as  a 
rule,  show  the  solid  area  of  black,  nor  are  any 
of  the  contrasts  of  color  so  marked,  yet  he  may 
be  recognized  at  once  by  his  large  size  and  the 
hind  toe,  the  mark  of  the  species. 

The  bird  at  the  right  in  the  plate  is  in  the 
plumage  of  the  young  of  the  year — the  winter 
dress  of  the  adult  bird  also,  though  the  mature 
bird  generally  retains  some  trace  of  the  black 
breast  in  the  dusky  markings  below.     In  this 


78  FEATHERED  GAME 

plumage,  (the  " pale-belly,"  as  the  shore  gun- 
ner then  calls  the  bird  in  distinction  from  the 
black-breast  full  dress)  there  is  often  a  yel- 
lowish tinge  on  the  feathers  of  the  back  which 
makes  the  resemblance  to  the  golden  plover  still 
greater. 

The  length  of  this  species  varies  from  eleven 
to  twelve  and  one-half  inches;  the  extent  of 
wings  from  twenty-two  to  twenty-four  inches. 
Weight  from  seven  to  nine  ounces. 


THE  AMERICAN  GOLDEN  PLOVER. 

(Charadrius  dominicus.) 

The  Golden  Plover  is  somewhat  smaller  than 
the  last  species,  is  three-toed,  is  of  slenderer 
figure  and  has  a  smaller  and  slimmer  bill. 
His  coloration  is  darker,  and  in  the  full  breed- 
ing dress  with  the  jet  black  breast  is  even  less 
often  seen  in  the  United  States  than  is  his 
cousin,  the  beetlehead.  As  a  rule  he  prefers 
the  inland  country  to  the  seashore,  and  is  es- 
pecially partial  to  barren  and  burnt  ground. 
A  piece  of  newly  plowed  land  offers  great  at- 
tractions to  the  migrant  flocks.  In  one  place 
where  the  writer  often  shoots,  on  the  borders 


THE  AMERICAN  GOLDEN  PLOVER  79 

of  the  marsh  are  many  acres  of  hay  fields.  One 
season  some  twenty  acres  of  this  was  turned 
over  and  the  brown  mold  laid  bare  to  the  sun 
and  rain.  During  all  that  fall  not  a  passing 
flock  of  "Goldens"  but  would  stop  and  make 
a  call  there.  More  were  killed  in  that  one 
season  in  that  place  than  in  the  five  together 
preceding  it.  When  a  flock  arrived  they  would 
quarter  the  ground,  wheeling  here  and  there 
in  erratic  flight,  until  satisfied  that  all  was  safe, 
then  finding  a  suitable  place  would  suddenly 
alight  and  scatter  at  once  to  feed. 

Their  beautiful  dark  eyes  are  full  and  soft, 
of  remarkable  size  and  brilliancy  for  a  shore 
bird.  The  head,  like  that  of  the  last  species,  is 
large,  and  the  forehead  is  equally  bulging  and 
prominent,  rising  at  a  sharp  angle  from  the  bill. 
The  call  is  a  mellow  piping  note,  flute-like  and 
clear,  and  while  not  so  powerful  as  many  an- 
other bay  bird  produces,  has  great  carrying 
qualities  and  is  heard  much  farther  than  would 
be  thought.  With  a  little  practice  the  gunner 
may  easily  imitate  it — a  great  assistance  to- 
ward filling  his  game  bag,  for  they  decoy  well 
and  come  readily  to  a  skillful  call.  Altogether 
the  Golden  Plover  is  a  fine  bird  from  the  bay 


80  FEATHERED  GAME 

gunner's  view  point — easy,  graceful  and  strong 
in  flight,  nimble  and  swift  of  foot — indeed,  what 
plover  is  not? 

They  arrive  in  New  England  rather  later 
in  the  spring  than  do  the  beetleheads,  and  re- 
turn to  warm  latitudes  earlier.  They  nest  in 
the  Arctic  regions,  as  do  most  of  the  shore 
birds,  which  gives  us  very  little  opportunity  for 
observing  their  breeding  habits.  The  winter 
months  are  passed  in  the  Southern  States  and 
beyond  to  the  southward.  Many  are  found  at 
this  season  on  the  grassy  plains  which  make  the 
cattle  ranges  of  Texas  and  northern  Mexico, 
and  some  even  go  to  the  extreme  southern  part 
of  South  America,  so  that  their  range  is  a  wide 
one.  The  family  is  represented  in  Europe  and 
Asia,  also,  the  Old  World  bird  varying  but  lit- 
tle from  our  own.  Only  an  expert  could  dis- 
tinguish one  from  the  other,  and  he  not  always. 

Most  writers  claim  that  this  bird  is  much 
more  common  in  New  England  than  is  the  bee- 
tlehead.  While  this  may  be  so,  my  own  ex- 
perience has  been  to  the  contrary,  and  I  think 
that  most  gunners  on  the  coast  of  Maine  will 
take  my  view  of  it.  I  think  I  have  seen  in 
one  great  flock  during  the  spring  flight  more 


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THE  AMERICAN  GOLDEN  PLOVER  81 

beetleheads  than  I  have  seen  of  Goldens  in  all 
my  life. 

The  Golden  Plover  feeds  in  the  fields  and 
highland  pastures,  haunting  much  the  same 
ground  as  the  upland  plover,  living  upon  slugs, 
beetles,  earthworms  and  grasshoppers,  nor 
passing  by  the  sweet  berries  of  the  fields.  In  the 
West  they  tell  us  stories  of  these  birds  follow- 
ing the  plow  when  the  farmer  turns  up  the  soil 
of  the  prairies,  and  of  their  coming  so  close 
that  the  ploughman  knocks  them  over  with  his 
whip  as  they  curl  and  wheel  about  his  head. 
This  sounds  like  a — well,  a  "fairy  tale,"  to  the 
eastern  gunner,  at  any  rate  most  of  our  sports- 
men are  satisfied  to  hunt  Golden  Plovers  with 
a  hard-hitting,  close-shooting  shotgun. 

During  the  migration  fair  shooting  is  some- 
times to  be  had  at  Goldens  in  our  island  fields, 
when  the  gunner,  putting  out  decoys  and  be- 
ing well  hidden,  calls  the  passing  flocks.  They 
rarely  refuse  to  come  to  these  false  friends, 
not  once  only  but  even  returning  for  the  sec- 
ond discharge,  unwilling  to  desert  a  comrade 
in  distress.  Of  course  no  such  bags  are  made 
here  as  in  their  western  ranges.  If  the  sports- 
man comes  suddenly  upon  a  single  bird  it  will 


82  FEATHERED  GAME 

sometimes  seem  to  be  confused  and  may  only 
run  a  short  distance,  when  if  it  thinks  itself 
unobserved  it  will  crouch  in  the  grass  and  re- 
main motionless  until  the  gunner  either  has 
forced  it  to  fly  or  has  passed  on. 

The  bird  in  its  spring  plumage  is  marked  as 
follows:  forehead  and  a  stripe  over  the  eyes 
white;  upper  parts  generally  brownish  black, 
speckled  with  yellow  and  white,  these  lighter 
spots  mostly  on  the  tips  and  edges  of  the  feath- 
ers. The  tail  grayish  brown  with  black  bars. 
Below,  the  throat  and  breast  a  brownish  black, 
growing  lighter  toward  the  lower  parts ;  axillars 
and  linings  of  wings  dusky  or  ashy;  feet  and 
legs  black.  Such  a  bird  rarely  falls  to  the  New 
England  gunner  as  this  is  his  summer  plumage. 
As  we  see  him  in  the  fall  the  under  parts  are 
ashy  gray,  faintly  and  irregularly  splashed  with 
dark  brown  or  black;  top  of  the  head  yellow 
with  dusky  lines;  stripe  over  the  eye  grayish; 
for  the  rest  much  as  in  the  spring  plumage. 
The  females  are  marked  like  the  males  save 
that  the  black  breast  has  taken  on  a  brownish 
hue.  Have  seen  a  few  adult  birds  wearing 
the  breeding  dress  into  the  fall  and  winter 
months. 


THE  KILDEER  PLOVER  83 

The  Golden  Plover  is  about  ten  and  one-half 
inches  long,  and  in  wing  spread  about  twenty- 
two  inches.  Weight  from  five  and  one-half  to 
six  ounces.  It  may  be  needless  to  add  that  the 
bird  is  a  delicate  morsel  for  the  table. 


THE     KILDEER     PLOVER.     "KILDEE." 

(Oxyechus  vociferus.) 

The  chief  of  the  small  family  of  "ring 
plovers;"  the  largest  and  most  beautiful  of 
these  birds  in  our  territory.  He  has  named 
himself  and  we  have  taken  him  at  his  word, 
"Kildeer!  Kildeer!"  A  noisy,  active,  restless 
little  bird,  and  not  very  common  in  New  Eng- 
land as  compared  with  the  numbers  found  in 
the  West. 

They  are  not  so  much  given  to  gathering  into 
flocks  nor  are  they  so  partial  to  the  seashore 
as  are  their  smaller  brethren.  The  Kildeer  is 
mostly  found  in  the  fields  and  high  grounds, 
ploughed  lands  or  marshes  rather  than  the 
sea  beaches.  In  the  full  plumage  a  beautiful 
bird;  above,  brownish  gray,  with  a  greenish, 
satiny  gloss,  and  many  feathers  edged  with 
golden  brown;  rump  and  upper  tail  coverts  of 


84  FEATHERED  GAME 

bright  and  varying  shades  of  golden  yellow  or 
light  chestnut.  The  forehead  with  a  band  of 
white  running  from  eye  to  eye,  black-bordered 
above  and  joined  by  a  narrow  thread  above  the 
eye  with  the  white  patch  behind,  this  gradually 
changing  into  the  grayish  brown  of  the  hind 
head.  A  black  band  from  the  base  of  the  bill, 
passing  below  the  eye  through  the  ear  coverts 
and  fading  into  the  brown  of  the  nape.  Throat 
white,  this  color  carried  entirely  around  the 
neck  in  a  narrow  collar.  Below  this  two  collars 
of  black;  the  first  completely,  the  second  par- 
tially, encircling  the  body,  and  between  these  an 
incomplete  band  of  white.  Wings  the  same 
shade  of  brownish  gray  as  on  the  back,  with 
a  crossbar  of  white  formed  by  the  tips  of  the 
greater  coverts.  Primaries  black,  with  a  con- 
siderable area  of  white  on  the  outer  webs  of 
the  inner  one.  For  the  rest  below,  pure  white. 
Central  tail  feathers  dark  greenish  brown, 
growing  blackish  toward  the  ends,  tipped  with 
tawny  or  white.  Side  tail  feathers  lighter,  with 
several  dark  barrings,  the  outer  pair  nearly 
white,  less  distinctly  barred.  Bright  orange  on 
eyelids.  Bill  black;  legs  pale  yellow.  Length 
from  nine  to  ten  and  spread  of  wings  about 


OS 

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SEMIPALMATED  PLOVER  85 

twenty  inches.    As  a  rule  the  Kildeer  is  not 
very  wary. 

This  species  is  a  dweller  in  North  America 
from  the  Saskatchewan  country  southward.  It 
is  found  in  the  winter  months  in  the  "West  In- 
dies, Central  America  and  northern  South 
America.  It  breeds  anywhere  throughout  this 
wide  range  of  territory,  usually  laying  from 
two  to  four  eggs,  dull  drab  or  cream  color,  with 
brownish  blotches  upon  them. 

SEMIPALMATED  PLOVER. 

(^Egialitis  semipalmata.) 

Common  on  almost  every  sandbar  and  mud- 
bank  along  our  coast  are  the  ' '  ringnecks, " 
filling  the  air  with  their  soft  and  pleasant  pip- 
ing. Their  notes,  at  times  wild  and  mournful, 
are  always  in  accord  with  the  swash  of  the 
sea.  Inhabiting  the  same  ground  and  often  as- 
sociating with  the  smaller  sandpipers,  where 
not  much  molested  they  show  the  same  trustful 
and  confiding  disposition  as  these  little  neigh- 
bors, but  where  the  "summer  boarder"  harries 
them  daily  they  soon  become  as  wild  and  wary 
as  any  of  the  shorebirds. 


86  FEATHERED  GAME 

There  are  several  species  of  this  family 
found  in  our  territory,  but  the  Semipahnated 
Plover  is  the  usual  victim  in  a  game  bag.  The 
Belted  Piping  Plover  is  less  common,  and  rar- 
est of  all  in  New  England  is  Wilson's  Plover 
which  occasionally  strays  here  from  his  warmer 
range.  It  is  barely  possible  that  the  Snowy 
Plover,  (Aegialitis  nivosa)  a  western  bird,  may 
visit  us  at  times. 

Along  our  sea  beaches — the  outer  ones  which 
are  not  so  much  frequented  by  human  kind — 
in  August  and  the  first  half  of  September  their 
flocks  are  happily  feeding,  running  nimbly 
about,  chasing  each  receding  wave  with  tire- 
less feet,  and  as  rapidly  retreating  before  each 
incoming  comber.  They  are  apparently  a 
happy  and  good-natured  little  company,  never 
quarreling  nor  wrangling  among  themselves, 
and,  unfortunately  for  their  own  safety,  are 
only  too  willing  to  investigate  if  they  hear  a 
neighbor's  call.  The  gunner  need  not  be  very 
carefully  hidden  if  he  can  imitate  their  note,  as 
small  bunches  are  almost  certain  to  come  in  and 
give  him  a  chance  as  they  are  skimming  past. 
However,  few  sportsmen  disturb  their  peace, 


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SEMIPALMATED  PLOVER  87 

and  it  is  mainly  the  small  boy,  the  natural  en- 
emy of  all  living  creatures,  who  decimates  their 
ranks. 

The  two  common  species  are  often  found  in 
one  flock,  but  with  us  and  in  most  localities  the 
most  numerous  race  is  the  Semipalmated, 
marked  as  follows:  bill  short  and  stout,  black 
with  orange-yellow  base;  forehead  prominent, 
rising  sharply  from  the  bill  as  in  others  of  the 
tribe;  above,  a  dark  brownish  gray,  matching 
well  "the  ribbed  sea  sand,"  their  home.  It 
is  astonishing  how  well  this  protective  color- 
ing hides  them  when  by  accident  they  are  still 
for  a  moment.  Below  pure  white.  Throat 
white,  the  lower  part  of  this  patch  passing  com- 
pletely around  the  neck  in  a  narrow  ring. 
Below  this  a  wide  black  collar  entirely 
around  the  neck.  A  patch  of  black  at  the 
base  of  the  bill,  running  back  below  the  eye 
and  bordering  the  white  forehead,  which  is 
again  sharply  defined  by  the  black  of  the  crown. 
A  ring  of  bright  orange  about* the  eye.  Prima- 
ries blackish.  Tail  same  color  as  the  back, 
but  growing  darker  toward  the  ends  of  the 
feathers ;  tips  white,  as  are  also  the  outer  pairs 


88  FEATHERED  GAME 

of  feathers.  Legs  flesh  color,  feet  considerably 
webbed  between  the  middle  and  outer  toes. 
Length  from  seven  to  seven  and  one-half  in- 
ches; extent  of  wings  about  fifteen  inches. 


THE  PALE  RINGNECK,  OR  PIPING 
PLOVER. 

(iEgialitis  meloda.) 

Though  much  less  common  in  the  east  than 
the  last,  this  species  is  fairly  abundant  all 
alongshore,  associating  with  the  semipalmated 
plover  and  in  mode  of  life  differing  in  no  wise 
from  him.  The  "whistle"  differs  from  that 
of  the  last  species.  As  the  name  indicates  he 
is  lighter  in  coloring,  of  less  decided  tones, 
and  may  be  picked  out  at  once  in  a  flock  of 
the  more  common  species  of  ringnecks  among 
which  he  appears  to  be  snow  white.  The  bird 
is  pale  brownish  ash  above;  below,  like  all  the 
family,  pure  white,  as  is  also  the  forehead, 
side  of  the  head,  throat,  and  a  collar  from  the 
throat  encircling  the  neck.  Below  this  collar 
is  a  black  band  of  less  and  variable  extent, 
sometimes  completely  encircling  the  neck  but 
oftener  the  circle  is  broken  in  front.     The  tail 


BELTED  PIPING  PLOVER  89 

coverts  are  white.  Tail  dusky  in  the  centre, 
outer  pairs  of  feathers  growing  white.  Wing 
quills  dusky  with  whitish  patches.  Eyelids  or- 
ange. Bill  as  in  the  last  species  but  not  so 
brightly  colored.  This  species  is  also  webbed 
between  the  middle  and  outer  toes,  but  not  to 
so  great  an  extent  as  in  the  preceding.  The 
Pale  Ringneck  is  a  trifle  smaller  than  the  Semi- 
palmated  Plover.  Both  birds  inhabit  the  in- 
land country  as  well  as  the  coast,  but  in  New 
England  are  rarely  found  away  from  the  sea- 
shore. 

The  bird  at  the  right  in  the  plate  represents 
this  species. 

THE  BELTED  PIPING  PLOVER. 

(.ffigialitis  meloda  circumcincta.) 

This  bird  is  so  similar  in  his  markings  to  the 
Pale  Ringneck  that  one  must  be  a  very  close 
student  to  detect  the  difference.  He  may  per- 
haps be  a  little  grayer  in  his  tones.  He  is  not 
so  often  taken  on  New  England  shores,  his  range 
lying  more  to  the  westward. 

The  principal  characteristic  of  this  variety, 
which  is  of   somewhat  doubtful  value   in   or- 


90  FEATHERED  GAME 

nithology,  lies  in  the  fact  that  the  ring  of  black 
very  nearly  meets  on  the  forebreast  or  may  en- 
tirely encircle  the  neck ;  its  ring  is  supposed  to 
be  larger  and  the  color  darker  than  in  the  or- 
dinary Piping  Plover.  There  is  so  much  varia- 
tion in  the  amount  of  collar  worn  by  them  that 
it  is  often  very  hard  to  say  to  which  form  a 
specimen  belongs. 


WILSON'S  PLOVER. 

(Octhodromus  wilsonius.) 

This  is  a  rare  straggler  from  the  south,  sel- 
dom taken  north  of  Long  Island,  but  in  its 
southern  wanderings  often  going  to  Brazil, 
Peru,  and  even  farther  on.  He  can  scarcely 
be  mistaken  for  any  other  member  of  the  fam- 
ily, for  the  widely  different  shape  and  color 
of  his  bill  as  well  as  its  larger  size  will  place 
him  at  once.  He  also  lacks  the  orange  ring 
around  the  eye. 

The  bird  breeds  throughout  its  range, 
scarcely  making  a  nest,  but  laying  its  three  or 
four  eggs  in  a  hollow  in  the  warm,  dry  sand 
above  the  reach  of  the  tide.  This  plover  is 
mainly  a  dweller  on  the  sea  coast. 


> 

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AMERICAN  OYSTER  CATCHER      91 

Its  markings  and  peculiarities:  bill  black, 
long  for  this  family,  thick  and  large.  Fore- 
head white,  this  color  carried  back  over  the 
eyes  to  the  nape.  Top  of  the  head  brownish 
gray,  blackening  at  the  forehead;  the  nape 
same  color  as  the  top  of  the  head.  Blackish 
stripe  from  the  base  of  the  bill  to  the  eye  but 
not  beyond.  Throat  and  entire  under  parts  ex- 
cept the  half  collar  of  black  are  pure  white,  the 
white  of  the  throat  completely  encircling  the 
neck.  Primaries  blackish,  lighter  at  the  bases, 
inner  ones  with  outer  edges  of  white.  Central 
tail  feathers  dusky,  darkening  toward  the  ends 
and  white-tipped.     Outer  pair  or  so  white. 

Female  much  like  the  male  except  that  the 
black  markings  have  become  a  rusty  brown  in 
her  dress. 


AMERICAN  OYSTER  CATCHER. 

(Haematopus  palliatus.) 

The  American  Oyster  Catcher  is  but  seldom 
seen  on  the  coast  of  northern  New  England, 
probably  being  scarcer  on  these  ranges  than 
in  any  other  part  of  his  habitat.  It  does  not 
gather  into  large  flocks  nor  does  it  to  any  ex- 


92  FEATHERED  GAME 

tent  frequent  the  inland  country,  scarcely  ever 
going  farther  from  the  sea  than  does  the  tide 
water  in  the  rivers. 

All  along  the  eastern  shores  of  the  two 
Americas  this  bird  is  found,  northward  to  Lab- 
rador or  farther  in  the  summer  months,  and 
wintering  from  the  Middle  Atlantic  States  to 
and  beyond  the  tropics,  far  down  the  South 
American  coast.  It  is  also  found  on  the  Pacific 
side  of  the  continents,  but  the  more  common 
species  there  is  the  Black  Oyster  Catcher. 

The  Oyster  Catcher's  bill  is  remarkably  stout 
and  well  fitted  for  its  purpose,  that  is,  for  driv- 
ing into  "sea  urchins,"  knocking  "wrinkles" 
off  the  rocks  and  burrowing  into  the  sand  for 
razor  fish  and  small  crabs,  for  he  eats  any  of 
the  marine  shellfish  which  he  can  capture. 

The  bird  is  large  and  showy,  and  as  it  be- 
hooves him  for  his  safety's  sake,  wary  in  pro- 
portion as  he  looms  above  his  shore-bird  neigh- 
bors. Scarcely  to  be  approached  at  any 
season,  few  are  captured  and  they  are  fairly 
earned  by  good  and  careful  work.  Decoys  and 
enticing  whistlings  avail  naught,  for  the  bird 
is  either  unsocial  or  aristocratic  and  well  sat- 
isfied with  his  own  society. 


uu 
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AMERICAN  OYSTER  CATCHER      93 

The  coloring  of  this  species  is  arranged  in 
solid  masses  and  is  sharply  contrasted.  The 
bill  is  long  and  heavy,  chisel  pointed,  deepest  at 
a  point  one-third  of  its  length  from  the  head, 
and  in  color  bright  red,  growing  orange  yellow 
at  the  tip.  Head,  neck  and  fore  breast  black. 
Back  and  wings  dusky  brown.  The  rump 
mainly  like  the  back,  but  on  the  edges  of  the 
tail  coverts  growing  white,  this  color  also  show- 
ing on  the  bases  of  the  tail  feathers,  and  these 
going  through  the  shades  of  brown  and  dusky 
to  jet  black  at  the  tips.  Wings  like  the  back 
in  color,  with  a  crossbar  of  white  formed  by  the 
ends  of  the  greater  coverts  and  some  of  the 
secondaries.  Linings  of  the  wings  and  entire 
under  parts  white.  Eyes  red  with  a  circle  of 
orange  about  them.  Feet  and  legs  stout,  of  a 
pale  pinkish  color.  The  length  of  this  species 
varies  from  seventeen  to  twenty  inches,  and  its 
spread  of  wings  between  thirty-three  and  thir- 
ty-five inches. 

There  are  several  other  species  of  oyster 
catchers.  Nearly  every  sea  coast  in  the  world 
affords  them  sustenance  and  is  inhabited  by 
some  member  of  the  family. 


94  FEATHERED  GAME 


THE     TURNSTONE.     "CALICO     BACK." 
CHICKEN  PLOVER.    ROCK  PLOVER. 

(Arenaria  morinella.) 

Where  the  sea  beaches  are  not  too  thickly 
populated  with  human  visitors  the  Turnstones 
are  quite  common  during  the  summer  and  early 
fall,  from  the  middle  of  July  to  the  middle  of 
September.  These  "Chicken  Plovers,"  as  the 
shore-dweller  has  named  them,  are  most  inter- 
esting little  birds,  scurrying  along  the  beach, 
putting  their  stout  little  beaks  under  the  peb- 
bles to  turn  them  over  so  as  to  expose  to  view 
the  myriad  "wrigglers"  dwelling  beneath 
them;  it  is  even  said  that  they  will  drive  their 
beaks  through  the  armor  of  the  less  thoroughly 
protected  shellfish,  such  as  the  "sea  urchins," 
and  the  like.  They  handle  quite  a  pebble  when 
they  set  to  work  upon  it,  putting  the  bill  be- 
neath and  turning  it  with  a  sudden  jerk  of  their 
stout  little  necks,  or  when  this  will  not  do  it, 
by  settling  back  upon  their  legs  and  suddenly 
straightening  them  at  same  time  with  the  ef- 
fort of  the  head  and  neck,  or  even  pushing 
against  it,  man-fashion,  with  their  breasts.     In 


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THE  TURNSTONE  95 

the  air  the  Turnstones  are  very  pretty  birds, 
bearing  a  strong  resemblance  to  the  beetle- 
head  when  on  the  wing,  except  when  they  alter- 
nate scaling  and  swift  wing  beats  as  is  their 
habit.  When  flying  they  have  a  curious  chat- 
tering conversational  note,  almost  like  that 
of  the  English  sparrow.  They  are  said  to  swim 
well  and  to  make  nothing  of  alighting  upon 
the  water  from  their  flights.  Have  never  seen 
them  do  so  but  do  not  doubt  their  seamanship. 
They  do  not  gather  into  large  flocks  save  dur- 
ing their  migrations,  at  ordinary  times  being 
found  in  bunches  ranging  in  number  from  two 
or  three  to  a  dozen  birds. 

The  Turnstone  is  a  dweller  in  almost  every 
corner  of  the  world.  He  is  found  along  both 
coasts  of  our  continent,  well  up  into  the  north 
in  summer, — on  the  Pacific  coast  to  Alaska,  on 
the  Atlantic  shores  certainly  to  Labrador  and 
probably  well  beyond,  all  along  the  Arctic  coast. 
In  the  winter  months  they  leave  us  for  the 
milder  breezes  and  bluer  waters  of  the  Mexican 
Gulf,  and  many  go  far  down  both  coasts  of 
South  America. 

Though  far  more  common  on  the  ocean 
shores  they  are  at  times  taken  on  the  Great 


96  FEATHERED  GAME 

Lakes  and  other  large  inland  waters.     On  the 
coast  line  they  rarely  penetrate  into  the  tide 
water    and    aestuaries,    choosing    rather    the 
ledges   rising   from   the   deep  water   and  the 
rocky    shores    of    remote    and    seldom-visited 
islands  well  out  from  the  mainland,  where  all 
undisturbed  they  may  live  their  happy  and  in- 
nocent lives.    As  for  their  coloring  we  might 
almost  say  that  no  two  are  marked  alike,  the 
depth  of  color  and  its  arrangement  being  sub- 
ject to  wide  variation  in  different  specimens. 
In  general  their  upper  parts   are  irregularly 
splashed  with  black  and  white  and  dark  brown, 
with   some  patches   of  light   red  or  chestnut. 
Below,  mostly  white,  but  black  on  lower  throat 
and  breast.     Crown  streaked  with  black  and 
white.     Forehead,  cheeks,  side  of  head,  throat 
and  nape  white.     On  the  side  of  the  neck  black 
and  white  in  irregular  patches.     Back,  rump 
and  upper  tail  coverts  white,  with  a  dark  patch 
through  central  line  of  rump  and  tail  coverts. 
Tail  white  with  dusky  patch  near  tips  of  the 
feathers,  these  finally  tipped  with  white.     Scap- 
ulars,  secondaries   and   wing  coverts   mottled 
with  black  and  chestnut.     Some  of  the  greater 
coverts  white,  often  making  a  crossbar  of  this 


THE  AVOCET  97 

color  in  the  wing.  Under  wing  coverts  white. 
Eyes  and  bill  black;  feet  pale  orange. 

The  female  is  not  so  brightly  colored,  lacking 
much  of  the  light  red,  which  in  her  dress  is 
replaced  with  dark  brown.  The  fall  bird  of 
either  sex  is  not  so  brilliantly  attired  as  is  the 
spring  migrant,  but  even  then  is  a  beautiful 
piece  of  coloring.  The  length  of  this  species 
is  between  eight  and  nine  inches ;  the  extent  of 
wing  varies  from  sixteen  to  eighteen  inches. 

Besides  the  present  species  the  Pacific  coast 
boasts  another — the  Black-headed  Turnstone, 
closely  akin  to  our  bird.  The  two  are  chums 
where  their  ranges  come  together,  from  South- 
ern California  northward. 


THE  AVOCET. 

(Recurvirostra  americana.) 

This  striking  and  graceful  bird,  like  many  of 
his  family,  is  a  lover  of  the  Great  West  and 
so  is  not  often  taken  in  New  England.  It  is 
far  less  common  on  the  eastern  half  of  our 
continent  than  beyond  the  Rockies  and  in  the 
northeast  is  an  exceptionally  rare  visitor. 

In  their  chosen   range   they   favor   the   salt 


98  FEATHERED  GAME 

pools  and  the  muddy  ponds,  feeding  along  the 
edges  and  even  wading  in  so  deep  as  to  im- 
merse the  whole  head  and  neck  in  the  water  as 
they  probe  into  the  muddy  bottom  with  their 
bills. 

In  many  respects  this  bird  is  one  of  the  most 
remarkable  of  the  waders^  with  its  striking 
markings  of  plumage,  long,  slender  and  up- 
turned bill,  long  legs  and  webbed  feet,  and  be- 
ing also  heavily  and  closely  feathered  under- 
neath, there  is  no  difficulty  in  its  swimming  or 
wading.  Indeed,  it  makes  nothing  of  alighting 
in  deep  water  from  its  flights  when  it  so  wishes, 
and  it  can  swim  as  well  as  a  duck.  It  is  cer- 
tainly well  fitted  for  any  exigency  of  life.  We 
are  told  that  it  is  very  noisy  and  less  wary  in 
habit  than  is  conducive  to  its  safety. 

The  Avocet  is  extremely  long-legged,  prob- 
ably proportionately  more  so  than  any  other 
wader  unless  it  be  the  "stilt."  Its  plumage  is 
mainly  white,  changing  to  a  rusty  or  cinnamon 
brown  on  the  head  and  neck,  paling  at  the  base 
of  the  bill,  darkest  on  the  head  and  fading  grad- 
ually into  the  white  of  the  breast  and  body. 
The  interscapulars  and  a  part  of  the  scapulars 
are  black.    Wings  for  the  most  part  black,  but 


U 
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THE  STILT  99 

some  of  the  secondaries  and  the  linings  of  the 
wings  are  white.  The  tail  short  and  squarely 
cut,  pearl  gray  or  light  ashy.  Iris  bright  red. 
Bill  long,  slender  and  generally  up-curved,  is 
black  in  color.  Its  long  legs  are  a  dull,  pale 
blue,  with  lighter  webs,  these  sometimes  flesh- 
colored.  Length  from  sixteen  to  twenty  in- 
ches; wing  spread  varying  from  thirty-two  to 
thirty-six  inches. 

The  wings  and  tail  are  often  very  short  for 
this  family,  thus  their  measurements  may  vary 
widely  in  different  specimens,  but  there  is  no 
chance  for  confusing  the  Avocet  with  any  other 
of  our  birds,  for  his  cinnamon  head,  short  and 
square-cut  tail,  to  say  nothing  of  the  slender, 
long  and  up-curved  bill  and  the  webbing  of  the 
feet  will  identify  him  at  once. 

The  range  of  this  species  is  from  the  Sas- 
katchewan southward  through  the  United  States 
to  Central  America  and  the  West  Indies. 


THE  STILT. 

(Himantopus  mexicanus.) 

Having  much  the  same  range  as  the  avocet, 
though  perhaps  more  southerly  in  its  habitat, 


100  FEATHERED  GAME 

and  extremely  rare  in  New  England,  is  another 
curious  bird,  the  Stilt,  also  called  Longshanks, 
and  the  Lawyer. 

The  Stilt  is  from  fourteen  to  fifteen  inches 
long  and  from  twenty-four  to  twenty-eight 
inches  across  his  wings ;  these  are  proportion- 
ately considerably  longer  than  the  avocet's, 
when  folded,  extending  quite  a  little  beyond  the 
tail.  Above,  mainly  black  if  the  bird  is  at  rest, 
as  the  wings  are  closed  over  the  white  upper 
parts  and  the  tail.  The  black  is  also  carried 
over  the  back  of  the  neck  and  the  top  of  the 
head,  around  the  eye,  leaving  the  forehead  and  a 
patch  on  the  eyelids  and  behind  the  eye  white, 
as  are  also  the  sides  of  the  neck,  throat,  head 
below  the  eyes  and  the  entire  under  parts. 
The  rump  and  tail  coverts  are  white;  the  tail 
grayish  white.  The  bill  is  black,  very  slender, 
usually  straight,  though  sometimes  a  trifle  bent 
upward  from  the  centre.  Legs  and  eyes  car- 
mine. 

Its  range  is  virtually  the  same  as  the  avocet's, 
going  farther  south  in  winter,  to  Peru  and  Bra- 
zil as  well  as  the  West  Indies,  and  in  its  north- 
erly nights  rarely  going  beyond  the  United 
States. 


C/3 


THE  RED  PHALAROPE     101 


THE  RED  PHALAROPE. 

(Crymophilus  fulicarius.) 

The  Red  Plialarope  is  the  ''odd  one"  of  his 
family  (any  one  of  which  is  odd  enough), 
heavier  in  his  build,  having  a  shorter  and  a 
thicker  bill  and  a  longer  tail  than  the  other  two. 
About  the  base  of  the  bill  and  on  the  forehead  is 
a  blackish  mask.  A  patch  of  white  running 
back  from  this  through  the  eyes  and  nearly 
meeting  its  fellow  on  the  nape.  Back  of  head, 
hind  neck  and  down  the  back  tawny  yellow  and 
blackish,  the  light  color  on  the  tips  and  edges 
of  the  feathers.  Rump  whitish.  Tail  long  and 
rounding,  dark  brownish  ash.  The  wing  cov- 
erts dark  slatey  gray,  the  tips  of  the  greater 
coverts  making  a  crossbar  of  white.  Primaries 
dusky,  with  white  shafts.  Below,  a  rich  pur- 
plish red,  this  color  also  on  the  sides  of  the  neck 
and  upper  tail  coverts,  deepest  on  the  breast 
and  paling  toward  the  edges  of  the  area  thus 
marked.  The  female,  as  is  the  peculiarity  of 
this  family,  is  much  brighter  in  her  hues  than 
is  her  mate.  Bill  dull  yellow,  growing  dusky  at 
the  tip.     Feet  and  legs  yellow;  toes  lobed  and 


102  FEATHERED  GAME 

webbed  as  in  the  Red-necked  Phalarope,  but  not 
to  so  great  an  extent.  The  length  of  this  species 
is  usually  about  seven  and  one-half  inches ;  the 
extent  about  fourteen. 

The  fall  dress  is  widely  different  with  no  sign 
of  red  below  or  the  tawny  on  the  edges  of  the 
feathers  of  the  back  and  wings.  Most  of  head 
and  entire  under  parts  are  white,  with  circum- 
ocular  patch  and  spot  on  the  nape  of  dusky. 
Sides  ashy  gray;  above  everywhere  ashy,  the 
wings  considerably  darker,  and  with  decided 
crossbar  of  white.  Bill  almost  all  black.  This 
is  the  plumage  of  most  of  the  specimens  taken 
in  New  England. 

The  present  species  and  the  Northern  Phala- 
rope  are  found  more  commonly  in  New  Eng- 
land, the  former  the  less  common,  and  both  pre- 
ferring the  coast  line  for  their  wanderings. 

THE  NORTHERN  PHALAROPE. 

(Phalaropus  lobatus.) 

Next  in  order  and  smallest  in  size  is  the 
Northern,  or  Red-necked  Phalarope,  the  most 
common  of  this  family  along  our  coast.  Con- 
siderably less  brilliant  in  plumage  than  is  either 


THE  NORTHERN  PHALAROPE    103 

of  his  brethren,  this  little  bird  is  found  pretty 
much  all  through  the  Northern  Hemisphere, 
spending  the  summer  months  far  away  within 
the  Arctic  circle,  and  in  winter  migrating  even 
to  the  tropics.  A  great  traveler  for  such  a 
small  one.  He  is  likely  to  be  found  in  any  part 
of  our  continent  but  favors  the  sea  coast. 
Flocks  of  them  ("Sea  Geese,"  the  sailors  call 
them)  are  often  found  resting  quietly  on  the 
water  miles  from  land  and  feeding  on  the  insects 
in  the  drift  stuff. 

I  remember  how  surprised  I  once  was  at  see- 
ing what  seemed  to  be  three  sandpipers  paddling 
about  in  the  water  alongside  a  bridge  over  a 
tide  water  bay.  A  large  amount  of  the  sub- 
urban travel  into  Portland,  Me.,  was  over  this 
bridge  and  there  was  a  continual  rumble  of 
electrics,  heavy  teams  and  lighter  vehicles,  with 
plenty  of  foot  passengers  also.  I  stopped  to  in- 
vestigate, and  as  the  tide  was  high  and  the  birds 
not  more  than  fifteen  feet  away  it  was  easy  to 
see  that  the  little  fellows  were  Northern  Phala- 
ropes.  I  watched  them  for  some  time  as  they 
swam  at  ease,  turning  and  darting  as  sailor-like 
as  any  of  the  waterfowl  could  have  done,  and 
only  paddling  away  finally  when  a  small  boy, 


104  FEATHERED  GAME 

unable  longer  to  repress  nature,  ''shied  a  rock" 
at  them.  Such  fearlessness,  or  heedlessness,  or 
innocence,  whichever  it  was,  I  have  never  seen 
in  a  wild  bird. 

In  the  breeding  dress  this  bird  is  dark  slatey 
gray  above,  darkest  on  the  head;  on  the  back 
having  numerous  mottlings  of  brownish  yellow, 
many  of  the  feathers  finely  edged  with  white. 
The  dark  color  on  the  head  runs  back  from  the 
bill  below  the  eye,  leaving  a  white  area  below 
margined  about  by  this  color  and  the  red-brown 
patch  on  the  neck,  which  extends  from  the  nape 
in  a  narrow  belt  across  the  upper  breast, 
nearly  encircling  the  throat.  All  other  under 
parts  white.  The  upper  tail  coverts  like  the 
back  though  with  broader  white  margins  to  the 
feathers.  The  wings,  when  closed  extending 
beyond  the  tail,  are  dusky,  the  tips  of  the 
greater  coverts  making  a  broad  white  bar  across 
them.  Quills  with  shafts  whitish,  darkening 
toward  the  tips.  Bill  small  and  slender,  pro- 
portionately shorter  than  in  Wilson's  and 
black  in  color,  as  are  likewise  the  feet  and  legs. 
The  toes  have  a  marginal  membrane,  scalloped 
on  the  edges,  making  lobes  on  each  joint.  The 
membrane  also  extends  between  the  toes  out  to 


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WILSON'S  PHALAROPE  105 

the  second  joint,  thus  making  a  very  good  pro- 
pelling agent  of  the  foot. 

The  bird  in  the  fall  is  often  a  plain  gray  and 
white  little  fellow  which  at  first  glance  will  pass 
for  a  "sandpeep,"  but  its  slender  bill  and  pe- 
culiarly formed  feet  will  mark  it  at  once.  Like 
the  others  this  species  is  heavily  feathered  be- 
low to  resist  the  water. 

The  Northern  Phalarope  is  about  seven 
inches  long,  with  a  sail-spread  of  about  thirteen 
inches. 

WILSON'S  PHALAROPE. 

(Steganopus  tricolor.) 

This  is  the  largest  and  perhaps  the  handsom- 
est of  the  family.  A  striking  bird  which  ranks 
high  in  point  of  beauty  of  plumage  among  the 
waders. 

Wilson's  Phalarope  is  by  no  means  common 
in  New  England,  nor  for  that  matter  anywhere 
east  of  the  Mississippi  valley,  though  abund- 
ant from  that  region  westward.  Its  summer 
range  takes  it  north  to  the  region  of  the  Sas- 
katchewan, and  in  the  winter  it  goes  down  the 
coasts  of  South  America  even  to  Patagonia. 
They  breed  at  any  point  in  their  range,  pre- 


106  FEATHERED  GAME 

ferably  in  the  northern  marshes,  laying  three 
or  four  eggs,  drab  colored  with  brownish  spots. 
If  these  birds  were  "humans"  Mrs.  Phalarope 
would  probably  be  ' '  strong-minded ' '  and  inarch 
in  the  front  rank  of  the  army  of  "new  women," 
"going  gadding,"  and  lecturing  against  "that 
tyrant,  Man ! "  As  it  is,  being  only  a  bird,  she 
is  content  to  make  Mr.  Phalarope  do  all  the 
duty  in  hatching  the  eggs  and  rearing  the 
youngsters,  while  the  lady  of  the  family  wears 
the  good  clothes,  puts  on  the  style  and  does  the 
ornamental  for  the  pair.  She  even  does  the 
courting  in  the  spring,  thus  again  reversing  the 
general  order  of  things  in  bird  life.  She  is 
larger  as  well  as  more  gaudy  in  her  dress  than 
is  her  poor,  down-trodden  mate.  This  species  is 
distinctively  American,  as  might  be  guessed 
from  the  independence  of  the  lady  bird  in  her 
domestic  affairs. 

In  its  breeding  dress  the  female  Wilson 's  Pha- 
larope is  marked  thus :  bill  quite  long  and  very 
slender,  tapering  nearly  to  a  needle  point.  The 
nostril  is  almost  lost  in  the  feathers  at  the  base 
of  the  bill.  Forehead  and  crown  a  beautiful 
bluish  ash,  the  same  color  running  down  to  the 
nape,   there  whitening  and  continuing  to   the 


WILSON'S  PHALAROPE  107 

back  in  a  narrow  stripe,  losing  itself  in  the  ashy 
gray  of  the  back.  A  strip  of  black  from  the 
base  of  the  bill  passing  below  and  behind  the 
eye  and  down  the  side  of  the  neck  where  it 
changes  into  purplish  chestnut  behind  and  si- 
enna brown  in  front,  this  gradually  fading  into 
the  white  of  the  throat  and  under  parts.  Above, 
ashy  gray,  mottled  and  necked  with  deep  red- 
brown.  Rump  and  upper  tail  coverts  nearly 
white.  Wings  folding  quite  a  little  beyond  the 
tail,  brownish  gray,  with  fine  white  tips  to  the 
coverts.  Primaries  dusky,  the  shafts  white, 
darkening  at  the  ends.  Tail  grayish  brown 
with  tiny  edging  of  white.  Entire  under  parts 
white,  the  feathers  thick  and  close  like  those  of 
a  water  fowl.  The  legs  rather  long  and  flat- 
tened laterally  as  though  ("I  axes  the  lady's 
parding"  but  she  will  wear  'em)  her  trousers 
had  just  been  creased ;  the  feet  black,  with  long, 
slender  toes  having  a  marginal  webbing.  Iris 
brown.  Length  from  eight  and  one-half  to  nine 
inches;  extent  about  fifteen  inches. 

The  male  is  smaller,  and  much  duller  in  mark- 
ings and  color.  The  brightness  of  his  lady's 
garb  is  very  faintly  shown  in  his  clothes.  A 
plain,  sad-colored,  gray  and  white,  hen-pecked 


108  FEATHERED  GAME 

husband  is  he,  but  unmistakable  among  his 
shorebird  neighbors  from  the  oddities  of  his 
bill  and  feet. 


AMERICAN  WOODCOCK. 

(Philohela  minor.) 

The  Woodcock  arrives  in  New  England  from 
his  winter  quarters  much  earlier  than  is  com- 
monly supposed.  The  writer  has  seen  him  in 
the  vicinity  of  Portland,  Me.,  as  early  as  Feb- 
ruary 10th,  though  ordinarily  he  does  not  reach 
this  latitude  before  the  last  of  March,  the 
weather,  of  course,  having  much  to  do  with  his 
coming.  Things  start  up  early  in  the  sheltered 
openings  of  the  forest  and  on  the  sunny  hill- 
sides. Here  the  woodranger  may  be  agreeably 
surprised  some  fine  spring  morning  at  meet- 
ing Mr.  Woodcock  near  some  big  ant  hill  which 
is  undergoing  repairs  at  the  hands  of  its  ten- 
ants and  being  made  ready  for  the  year's  work. 
This  will  supply  his  wants  until  the  alder  cov- 
ers are  ready  for  him. 

In  the  latter  half  of  April  if  the  season  be 
warm  and  forward,  the  Woodcock  builds  its 
nest  in  a  secluded  nook — a  slight  affair  of  dead 


AMERICAN  WOODCOCK  109 

leaves  and  soft  grasses  woven  together  in  a 
shallow  depression, — at  the  foot  of  a  dead  stub, 
it  may  be, — and  lays  its  complement  of  four  or 
five  dull  clay-colored  eggs,  thickly  speckled  with 
brown  spots.  It  is  said,  and  probably  truly, 
that  the  cock  bird  assists  in  the  incubation  and 
in  the  care  and  up-bringing  of  the  young.  The 
Woodcock  has  a  healthy  appetite  and  is  a  great 
feeder,  so  that  no  short  watch  off  the  nest 
would  keep  the  female  plump  and  round  as  is 
her  wont. 

Should  spring  rains  or  cold  storms  play  havoc 
with  nests  and  eggs,  with  renewed  courage  they 
try  again,  for  this  tenacity  of  purpose  is  neces- 
sary for  the  continuance  of  the  species,  and  the 
birds,  realizing  the  exacting  demands  of  the 
sportsmen  of  the  country,  are  hard  pushed  to 
meet  their  requirements.  It  may  be  that  in 
their  southern  breeding  grounds  two  families 
are  sometimes  raised  in  a  season,  but  I  much 
doubt  that  such  is  the  case  at  all  in  New  Eng- 
land.    W^ould  that  it  were ! 

How  many  of  our  sportsmen  have  ever 
seen  the  Woodcock  at  his  spring  love-making? 
It  is  certainly  a  curious  performance  and  well 
worth  a  trip  into  the  covers  to  see.     With  the 


110  FEATHERED  GAME 

corning  of  darkness  he  begins  his  little  play; 
first,  as  one  observer  represents  it,  a  gutteral 
' '  spneak !  spneak ! ' '  several  times  repeated  and 
the  sound  not  unlike  the  note  of  a  nighthawk; 
with  drooping  wings  and  spreading  tail  he  struts 
like  a  turkey  cock,  and  finally  leaping  into  the 
air  on  whistling  wings  he  circles  in  ever-widen- 
ing, higher-mounting  spirals  to  perhaps  a  height 
of  fifty  yards  or  more,  and  after  flying  about 
high  up  in  the  gloom  he  pitches  down  in  slanting, 
darting  flight,  the  music  still  sounding,  to  the 
side  of  the  mate  he  has  left  in  the  brush. 
Again  and  again  he  repeats  this  until  he  tires 
of  his  amusement  or  her  ladyship  commands  his 
attendance. 

Those  of  the  young  which  I  have  had  the  op- 
portunity of  examining  closely  were  killed  by  a 
pointer  puppy  which  had  joined  me  for  a  Sun- 
day stroll.  These  were  of  a  light  brownish 
yellow  color,  with  several  dusky  or  dark  brown 
stripes — one  from  the  bill  to  the  eye;  one  on 
top  of  the  head  down  over  the  hind  neck;  a 
spot  behind  the  eye  and  another  below  it;  the 
back  mottled  with  black  and  grayish  buff;  a 
dark  stripe  on  the  rump.  At  this  age  when 
scurrying  over  the  leaves  and  through  the  grass 


AMERICAN  WOODCOCK  111 

in  search  of  safe  hiding  places  they  looked  not 
unlike  "chipmunks,"  as  we  call  our  ground 
squirrels.  If  disturbed  with  her  brood  the 
mother  bird  has  been  known  to  take  up  a  little 
one,  holding  it  closely  pressed  between  her  legs 
and  body,  and  fly  away  to  safer  quarters,  re- 
turning and  making  separate  trips  until  in  this 
manner  the  whole  brood  has  been  placed  in  a 
less  dangerous  neighborhood. 

This  gentleman  is  not  a  hardy  bird  but  a  lover 
of  ease,  comfort  and  plenty.  So  he  chooses  his 
homes  mainly  in  mild  climates,  and  while  in  our 
Middle  States  he  is  to  some  extent  resident, 
with  us  here  in  the  north  he  is  only  a  visitor 
during  our  warmer  seasons,  our  New  England 
winters  leaving  him  small  chance  for  a  living. 
They  regularly  breed  from  the  central  United 
States  (and  rarely  even  further  south — I  be- 
lieve there  are  records  of  this  occurrence  in  the 
State  of  Florida)  almost  if  not  quite  to  the  Arc- 
tic Circle.  In  their  fall  flights  they  go  even  to 
South  America,  though  it  is  doubtful  if  many 
venture  so  far.  Their  migratory  flights  take 
place  at  night,  so  that  a  cover  which  to-day  is 
barren  and  profitless,  to-morrow  may  be  full  of 
scurrying  brown  birds  busily  engaged  in  boring 


112  FEATHERED  GAME 

and  honey-combing  the  soft  mold  in  an  eager 
pursuit  of  breakfast  after  their  journey ings. 
In  fact,  these  birds  are  decidedly  nocturnal  in 
their  habits.  The  main  business  of  their  lives 
is  transacted  by  the  light  of  the  moon,  and  dur- 
ing the  day  (when  out  of  season)  they  take 
their  rest  from  their  midnight  wanderings, 
basking  in  the  sun  in  the  openings  among  the 
birches  of  the  side-hills,  "lazying  around"  in 
the  brushy  ledges  until  their  healthy  appetites 
again  demand  attention.  About  sundown  they 
brighten  up  and  begin  their  hunt  for  food,  fly- 
ing out  into  the  open  glades  to  push  their  long 
noses  into  the  moist  soil  of  the  brook  banks.  In 
Eussia  the  sportsman  takes  advantage  of  this 
habit  and  about  sunset  places  himself  in  the 
edge  of  the  woods  bordering  some  likely  feed- 
ing ground,  and  facing  the  western  light,  shoots 
them  as  they  fly  out  to  feed.  This  is  called 
' '  stand  shooting, ' '  a  method,  I  think,  almost  un- 
tried in  America.  My  nearest  approach  to  it 
happened  one  evening  when  with  dog  and  gun 
I  started  for  a  nearby  cover  to  see  what  was  the 
prospect  for  sport  with  grouse  in  the  morning. 
It  was  early  in  November,  when  after  a  long 
drought  a  fierce  rainstorm  had  raged  for  sev- 


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AMERICAN  WOODCOCK  113 

eral  days,  and  as  the  breeze  out  of  the  north- 
west drove  the  broken  rearguard  of  the  storm 
seaward  I  came  into  the  woods.  The  sun  was 
setting  and  in  the  western  sky  the  promise  of 
better  weather  was  heralded  in  the  red  and  gold 
glowing  on  the  cloud  rims.  As  the  daylight 
faded  and  the  enclosing  walls  of  fir  took  on  an 
added  gloom,  I  saw  an  occasional  Woodcock 
drop  into  an  alder  swamp  which  skirted  the 
edge  of  the  woods.  At  times  a  pair,  but  oft- 
ener  a  lone  straggler  dashed  silently  across  the 
sky  from  the  wooded  hills,  and  darted  down  to 
feed  in  the  thicket  along  the  brook,  and  for  a 
short  time  there  was  good  fun  in  the  edges  of 
the  cover,  taking  them  as  they  came  in  or  letting 
my  dog  flush  them  and  doing  my  best  to  "snap" 
them  as  they  came  up  sharply  outlined  against 
the  sky.  It  was  uncertain  shooting  and  hard 
to  tell  when  the  barrels  were  properly  pointed. 
In  half  an  hour  I  could  not  see  to  shoot,  but 
went  home  content — two  partridges  and  five 
'cocks.  I  have  tramped  all  day  many  a  time 
for  less,  but  I  dare  not  say  how  many  birds 
were  missed  in  that  short  time.  There  was 
evidently  a  flight  on,  and  I  promised  myself 
great  fun  on  the  morrow,  but  again,  as  all  too 


114  FEATHERED  GAME 

often  happens  in  things  of  sport,  the  pleasures 
of  anticipation  were  greater  than  those  of  real- 
ization, for  when  the  morrow  came  I  walked  all 
day  and  although  there  were  evidences  aplenty 
of  the  presence  of  Woodcock,  I  found  but  one 
bird  and  got  but  one  shot  which  was  beauti- 
fully missed.  (0,  yes,  I  miss  one  now  and 
then!) 

But  I  must  also  mention  a  newer  and  more 
original  method  as  developed  by  a  friend — a 
practice  not  much  in  vogue  as  yet,  but  perhaps 
fraught  with  great  possibilities.  This  gunner 
was  on  a  ledge  among  our  outer  islands  shoot- 
ing "coots"  late  in  October,  when  he  saw  a 
strange  bird  coming  to  his  decoys.  After  some 
staring  at  the  newcomer  he  awoke  to  the  situa- 
tion in  time  to  send  a  charge  of  number  two 
shot  after  him  and  succeeded  in  killing  a  fine 
Woodcock.  I  mention  this  as  the  only  instance 
which  I  have  known  of  a  Woodcock  being  killed 
over  decoys. 

In  his  moonlight  travels  the  Woodcock  is  apt 
to  visit  the  cornfields  or  the  orchards,  even  com- 
ing into  the  farmer's  dooryard.  When  cross- 
ing his  lawn  after  dark  the  granger  may  chance 
to  hear  the  rolling  whistle  and  mayhap  dodges 


AMERICAN  WOODCOCK  115 

the  flying  form  seen  dimly  as  it  dashes  through 
the  bending  apple  boughs  into  the  darkness 
away.  The  bird  may  have  been  pulling  angle- 
worms under  the  apple  trees,  for  he  is  as  fond 
of  this  kind  of  bait  as  is  the  Sunday  trout- 
fisher.  Mr.  Longbill  brings  up  in  strange 
places  when  on  his  nightly  rambles,  even  visit- 
ing the  city  gardens  alongside  some  main 
thoroughfare  of  the  town.  He  may  be  said  to 
have  some  liking  for  civilization.  Apparently 
he  is  more  fond  of  a  country  partially  under 
cultivation  than  of  the  solitary  wastes  yet  un- 
reclaimed. The  Woodcock  is  rarely  seen  west 
of  the  Mississippi  except  in  a  very  few  favored 
sections. 

What  becomes  of  these  birds  during  the  hot 
days  of  July  and  August  is  an  open  question 
with  many  sportsmen.  This  is  the  moulting 
season,  when  it  is  probable  that  they  leave  the 
lowland  bogs  for  the  cool  air  of  the  hills  and 
the  never-failing  springs  which  the  "dog 
days'  "  heat  cannot  dry  up.  If  so  they  show 
their  usual  good  sense.  Some  sportsmen — and 
these  mainly  persons  of  veracity,  that  is,  as 
gunners  and  fishermen  average  (for  when  the 
Wise  Man  says,  "All  men  are  liars,"  it  must 


116  FEATHERED  GAME 

be  remembered  that  sportsmen  are  only  hu- 
man)— some  sportsmen  tell  us  that  they  have 
often  shot  woodcocks  in  the  mountain  bogs  at 
this  season,  when  no  birds  could  be  found  in 
their  usual  haunts  in  the  lowlands.  Game  laws 
were  then  almost  unheard  of  or  at  best  only 
honored  in  the  breach  by  the  larger  body  of  the 
shooting  population,  and  men's  consciences  per- 
mitted them  to  kill  woodcocks  in  July  and  Au- 
gust !  The  birds  wander  back  into  their  former 
homes  generally  in  time  to  assist  in  the  proper 
celebration  of  the  opening  day  of  the  season, 
though  sometimes  waiting  for  the  first  "cold 
snap"  to  stir  them  out. 

The  more  I  hunt  them  the  more  firmly  I  am 
convinced  that  our  long-billed  friends  are 
"mighty  onsartin."  They  may  be  found  at 
any  time  in  the  most  unlikely  and  unheard-of 
place.  I  frequently  find  them  on  the  top  of  a 
barren  ledge  whose  only  covering  is  low  juni- 
per bushes.  I  often  cross  this  ridge  in  my  par- 
tridge shooting  (it  lies  between  two  of  my  fav- 
orite grouse  patches),  and  seldom  fails  to  dis- 
turb at  least  one  or  two  'cocks  here  each  time. 
Probably  they  are  only  digesting  their  meals. 

But  who  is  this  gray-bearded,  wild-looking 


AMERICAN  WOODCOCK  117 

man  who  comes  striding  through  the  tangle  of 
alders  and  brush?  Why  that  baleful  light  in 
his  eye?  The  clouds  of  shifting,  dancing  "no- 
see-ums"  flicker  before  his  face — a  colony  of 
the  little  pests  has  gathered  on  his  exposed 
neck, — the  great  grandfather  of  all  the  mos- 
quitoes is  at  work  sinking  a  well  on  the  end  of 
his  nose,  and  a  swarm  of  smaller  pirates  has 
settled  on  each  brown  hand,  but  all  unmindful 
of  these  he  strides  on,  with  tense  and  mighty 
grip  upon  the  barrels  of  his  gun,  for  hushed  is 
the  tinkle  of  his  pointer's  bell,  and  dimly  show- 
ing among  the  alder  stems  he  sees  his  dog,  one 
foot  raised,  in  statuesque  pose,  rigid  and  glar- 
ing into  a  small  boggy  opening  just  ahead.  An- 
other step  the  gunner  takes  when  up  with 
merry  whistling  goes  the  plump  brown  bird 
into  the  sunlight.  The  gun  flies  to  the  sports- 
man's shoulder;  a  sharp  report  breaks  the  Sab- 
bath-like stillness  of  the  woods  and  through  the 
thin  mist  of  the  nitro  he  sees  the  lifeless  body 
falling  to  the  ground.  The  small  brown  gnome 
of  the  woodland  has  finished  his  course.  Now 
we  know  what  all  this  means.  This  is  the  ever- 
glorious  fifteenth  of  September, — "Wood- 
cocks are  ripe,"  and  for  two  months  the  man 


118  FEATHERED  GAME 

has  had  this  particular  bird  in  his  mind,  watch- 
ing it  almost  from  the  egg,  protecting  it  from 
the  "sooner"  gunner,  and  looking  forward  to 
this  blissful  moment  "even  as  you  and  I"  have 
done  each  year,  my  brother  of  the  "scatter 
gun. ' ' 

Steady  and  swift  as  it  is,  his  flight  lacks  the 
dash  and  headlong  rush  of  the  ruffed  grouse 
when  he  bursts  through  all  leafy  obstructions 
to  his  course,  nor  is  it  commonly  so  long  ex- 
tended when  the  bird  is  flushed  unless  it  has 
been  much  harassed.  Usually  he  flutters 
through  the  interlacing  boughs,  rises  just  above 
the  tops,  dashes  a  few  yards  away  and  drops 
into  the  brush  again.  His  flight  seldom  carries 
him  out  of  the  cover  if  it  pleases  him  and  con- 
tains plenty  of  food. 

The  Woodcock  commonly  lies  close  and  fur- 
nishes great  sport  to  the  gunner  who  has  a  well- 
trained  dog.  For  this  game  a  dog  needs  a  more 
than  average  good  nose,  therefore  the  puppy 
that  promises  well  on  Woodcock  is  apt  to  stand 
high  in  his  master's  estimation,  ranking  even 
before  that  other  treasure,  his  twenty-six-inch- 
barreled  "sprinkle  gun,"  for  replacing  wood 


AMERICAN  WOODCOCK  119 

and  iron  is  but  a  question  of  dollars  and  cents, 
but  the  dog — ah!     That's  another  matter! 

It  is  a  pretty  sight  to  see  Mr.  Woodcock  strut 
along  ahead  of  your  dog,  looking  for  all  the 
world  like  a  small  boy  stepping  proudly  off 
with  his  hands  in  the  pockets  of  his  first  trou- 
sers. Suddenly  he  crouches  on  the  ground — a 
leap  and  he  has  cleared  the  alder  tops,  hover- 
ing an  instant  to  get  his  bearings  or  make  sure 
he  is  clear  of  the  brush,  then  away !  He  makes 
a  pretty  picture  as  he  buzzes  over  the  tops  of 
the  low  growth,  his  head  half  turned,  with 
watchful  eye  upon  his  enemy,  and  the  merry 
whistle  of  his  pinions  growing  fainter  as  he 
goes,  but  it  is  a  more  pleasing  sight  to  most  of 
us  to  see  him  shut  his  wings  and  come  turning 
over  and  over  to  the  ground  after  the  little 
short-barreled  gun  has  been  well  handled. 
Still,  let  that  second's  hesitating  hovering  pass 
unimproved  and  the  chances  are  that  he  will 
escape. 

The  Woodcock  loves  the  thickest,  densest 
cover  of  the  woods,  where  there  may  be  no 
chance  to  raise  the  gun  to  the  shoulder,  the 
tangle  of  crossing  branches  catching  the  bar- 


120  FEATHERED  GAME 

rels  as  they  come  up  and  effectually  blocking 
any  further  proceedings  until  too  late.  Often 
the  birds  are  trotting  comfortably  about  in  a 
growth  of  alders  where  a  dog  can  scarcely 
penetrate,  much  less  a  sportsman  do  good  work. 
In  such  places,  before  the  frosts  have  taken  the 
summer's  heat  from  the  still  air  of  the  woods, 
woodcocking  is  likely  to  be  very  warm  business, 
but  when  the  colder  weather  has  driven  them 
from  their  summer  homes  in  the  bogs  of  Labra- 
dor and  the  bracing  northwest  winds  come  down 
with  their  promise  of  more  cold  to  follow,  there 
are  few  shooting  trips  pleasanter  than  a  day  in 
the  woodcock  covers.  Many  a  gray-headed 
veteran  follows  the  sport  as  eagerly  now  as  he 
did  thirty,  aye,  forty  years  agone,  when  he  made 
his  first  essay.  I  call  to  mind  one  poor  fellow 
who  went  out  for  just  one  more  try  at  the  birds 
— he  was  seventy-one — and  his  summons  came 
to  him  alone  in  the  woods  where  next  day  they 
found  him  peacefully  asleep.  He  had  had  good 
luck,  his  game-bag  was  full  of  woodcocks,  and 
his  face  was  as  happy  as  a  child's. 

Probably  woodcock  shooting  is  the  most  popu- 
lar sport  with  the  gun  which  is  followed  in  New 
England,  yet  why  it  should  rank  before  grouse- 


w> 


.5   o 

2-§ 


AMERICAN  WOODCOCK  121 

shooting  is  to  me  a  puzzler,  unless  it  is  because 
a  woodcock  permits  a  dog  to  take  more  liber- 
ties. "Make  a  sport  easy  and  you  have  made 
it  popular ! ' '  Shall  we  give  the  first  honors  of 
the  forest  to  the  Woodcock  solely  because  he  al- 
lows his  destroyer  to  tread  upon  his  tail  feath- 
ers before  flying  from  danger?  That  seems  to 
be  his  chief  claim  to  the  distinction,  for  he  is 
admittedly  inferior  to  the  ruffed  grouse  in 
brains,  speed  and  power  of  flight,  and  in  lead- 
carrying  grit,  to  say  nothing  of  his  smaller  size. 
To  my  mind  there  is  no  bird  in  America  to  com- 
pare in  game  qualities  with  our  ruffed  grouse. 
But  perhaps  I  am  not  an  unprejudiced  witness 
in  this  case.  I  know  that  it  will  take  a  long 
course  of  treatment  to  cure  me  of  the  "par- 
tridge habit,"  and  once  cured  (if  such  a  thing 
be  possible)  there  will  always  be  the  danger  of 
relapse.  Bight  well  I  know  which  would  re- 
ceive my  attention  if  woodcock  and  grouse  were 
to  rise  together  before  my  dog.  Many  a  time 
the  thunder  of  the  ruffed  grouse's  flight  has 
called  me  away  from  the  woodcocks  up  into  the 
birches  on  the  side  hill,  leaving  a  fair  chance 
of  shooting  "timberdoodles"  for  the  much 
smaller  prospect   of  capturing  Br'er   Grouse, 


122  FEATHERED  GAME 

and  I  have  known  many  a  woodcock  enthusiast 
to  follow  me  in  such  case,  despite  the  fact  that 
my  withdrawal  left  him  undisputed  possession 
of  the  cover.  I  am  quite  willing  to  give  the 
'cock  the  second  place,  subject,  of  course,  to 
the  "quail  man's"  protest,  though  for  myself 
I  think  woodcocking  requires  more  skill  on  the 
shooter's  part  than  does  the  shooting  of  quail, 
due  to  the  Woodcock's  towering  and  twisting 
flight,  and  the  generally  thicker  cover  where 
Mr.  Longbill  is  found.  This  does  not  apply  to 
fire-slaughter  as  practiced  in  the  south. 

The  American  Woodcock  is  a  trifle  smaller 
than  his  European  relative  and  of  much  darker 
coloration.  To  soothe  our  national  vanity  I 
will  add  that  he  is  much  smarter  and  more  re- 
sourceful than  the  Old  World  product.  The 
habits  of  the  two  are  very  similar.  In  color  our 
bird  is  a  warm  reddish  brown,  mottled  on  the 
back  and  wings  with  jet  black.  Many  feathers, 
mostly  on  the  shoulders,  of  a  pale  blue-gray 
color.  Most  of  the  feathers  of  the  back  and 
wings  are  tipped  with  deep  tawny  yellow.  On 
the  breast  a  ruddier  tinge  which  deepens  on  the 
flanks  to  a  beautiful  reddish-  or  golden-brown. 
The  male  bird  is  from  ten  to  eleven  inches  long, 


AMERICAN  WOODCOCK  123 

between  sixteen  and  eighteen  inches  in  extent, 
and  weighs  from  six  to  eight  ounces.  The  fe- 
male is  a  trifle  larger  and  the  average  weight 
may  be  an  ounce  or  so  heavier.  Have  heard 
from  sportsmen  of  "  Tiniberdoodles  "  weighing 
twelve  ounces,  but  such  birds  are  not  common 
and  I,  at  least,  have  never  seen  one.  The  larg- 
est Woodcock  of  my  own  capturing  weighed 
nine  and  one-half  ounces.  When  I  brought  him 
down  I  would  have  gambled  that  he  weighed 
not  less  than  a  pound.  I  have  seen  one  that, 
though  not  in  plump  order,  weighed  ten  and 
one-quarter  ounces,  was  twelve  inches  in  length, 
and  had  a  wing-spread  of  twenty  inches.  It 
was  by  all  odds  the  largest  Woodcock  that  I 
have  ever  seen  and  in  good  condition  should 
have  been  a  record  breaker  for  weight. 

Mr.  Timberdoodle  is  an  odd-looking  bird. 
His  striking  personality  will  command  the  at- 
tention of  anyone  who  may  meet  him.  A  plump 
and  chunky  body  is  he,  with  a  head  several 
sizes  too  large  for  him,  set  off  by  a  long  bill 
and  a  pair  of  dark,  beady  eyes,  soft  and  full, 
placed  high  up  and  well  back  in  his  head  so 
that  he  commands  a  wide  range  of  vision  and 
sees  nearly  as  much  behind  him  as  ahead.     It 


124  FEATHERED  GAME 

is  even  said  that  at  times  lie  watches  an  enemy 
behind  him  so  closely  as  to  dart  headlong  into 
a  tree  trunk  and  kill  himself.  This  statement 
probably  belongs  under  the  heading,  "Interest- 
ing if  true."  Such  cases  are  extremely  rare. 
Most  of  us  have  too  firm  a  faith  in  the  bird's 
ability  to  take  care  of  himself  to  believe  much 
in  this  theory. 

"With  fear  and  trembling  I  approach  the 
statement  I  am  about  to  make.  Many  fierce 
arguments  have  been  provoked  and  much  scorn 
and  contumely  have  been  heaped  upon  me  be- 
cause of  it — but  here  goes :  it  is  not  commonly 
known  among  sportsmen  that  the  American 
Woodcock  will  sometimes  take  to  a  tree  when 
disturbed.  I  have  seen  two  birds  do  so,  and 
(dare  I  confess  it?)  I  shot  the  first  one  as  he 
sat.  It  was  my  first  Woodcock  and  I  needed 
him ;  also  I  was  but  fifteen  years  old — let  these 
palliate  the  offense;  moreover,  the  ethics  of 
sport  in  that  section  did  not  then  forbid  the 
shooting  of  a  roosting  bird  when  it  could  be 
done.  I  know  of  six  other  instances,  in  each 
case  the  bird  unshot  at  and  unhurt,  where  reput- 
able sportsmen  have  seen  the  same  thing.  It 
was  in  one  case  a  woodcock  gunner  of  long  ex- 


AMERICAN  WOODCOCK  125 

perienee,  who,  when  I  had  told  him  that  I  had 
seen  a  woodcock  perched  in  a  tree,  listened  with 
a  politely  incredulous  smile,  saying  nothing,  but 
looking — "Well,  I  may  want  to  tell  you  a  'bus- 
ter' to  match  that  when  I  have  the  time  to  manu- 
facture it."  He  is  now  convinced,  for  he  has 
seen  with  his  own  eyes.  I  have  in  mind  an- 
other case  where  a  man  killed  one  that  was 
perching  in  an  apple  tree  at  dusk — shot  him 
with  a  club,  too — but  there!  I  see  that  my 
reputation  for  truth-telling  is  entirely  gone ! 

Yet  why  should  not  a  Woodcock  alight  in  a 
tree?  He  passes  his  entire  life  in  the  thickest 
tangle  of  the  woods,  and  what  is  there  strange 
in  his  settling  on  a  limb  if  he  likes?  "But," 
said  one  scoffer,  "the  Woodcock's  foot  is  not 
in  the  least  fitted  for  the  perching  habit;  he 
could  never  keep  on  a  limb."  Certainly  he  is 
as  well  fitted  for  it  as  a  woodduck,  a  hooded 
merganser,  a  whistler,  a  goose,  or  an  upland 
plover,  and  there  seems  to  be  no  difficulty  for 
the  same  people  to  believe  that  the  snipe,  his 
first  cousin  and  much  more  a  bird  of  the  open 
country,  will  fly  up  into  a  tree  when  alarmed 
near  its  nest.  The  habit  in  the  case  of  the 
Woodcock  also  seems  to  be  more  common  dur- 


126  FEATHERED  GAME 

ing  the  nesting  season,  when  few  gunners  are 
in  the  covers  and  so  are  less  likely  to  see  this 
strange  sight.  Within  a  week  I  have  been  in- 
formed of  two  well  authenticated  instances  of 
this  fact,  though  probably  it  was  the  same  bird 
in  each  case  as  the  two  happened  within  a  few 
yards  of  each  other  and  a  nest  is  near  by. 

With  us  in  New  England  these  seem  to  be 
two  great  flights  of  Woodcocks  in  the  fall,  the 
opening  of  the  season  finding  here  only  those 
birds  which  have  bred  in  our  borders.  These 
we  carefully  gather,  in  order  to  make  room  for 
later  arrivals,  which  are  due  about  October 
tenth  to  twentieth, — the  first  flight.  The  sec- 
ond excursion  comes  about  the  time  the  first 
cold  storm  of  the  fall  strikes.  These  later 
birds  are  from  the  extreme  northern  breeding 
range  of  the  family  and  usually  average  larger 
in  size  and  of  lighter  color  than  the  local  birds. 
Our  russet  brown  beauty  of  September  is  much 
ruddier  in  shade  than  are  these  November  visi- 
tors. It  seems  the  rule  among  most  migrant 
birds  that  those  breeding  in  the  northern 
ranges  average  larger  in  size  and  less  brilliant 
in  color.  This  statement  as  to  comparative 
size  does  not  apply  to  the  "  Labrador  twisters " 


AMERICAN  WOODCOCK  127 

of  the  veteran  woodcock  gunner, — the  few 
stragglers  picked  up  after  the  flights  have  gone 
by,  which  are  mostly  old  males  and  extremely 
small.  How  they  can  twist  and  fly!  If  the 
average  "Woodcock  had  their  ability  the  future 
supply    of    "Long-bills"    would    be    assured. 

My  latest  kill  on  Woodcock  was  on  November 
25th;  but  the  fault  is  mine,  for  I  failed  to  ad- 
vance this  record  five  days  by  making  a  beau- 
tiful two-cartridge  miss  on  November  30th  of 
last  season  and  for  two  weeks  later  there  was  an 
occasional  bird  to  be  found,  although  there  had 
been  a  four-inch  snowfall  in  the  meantime.  I 
have  known  of  their  staying  near  an  open 
spring  hole  even  later  than  this.  (Maine  rec- 
ords.) 

One  word  here  on  game  protection :  May  the 
day  soon  come  when  all  spring  shooting  shall 
be  stopped:  When  the  sale  of  game  in  the 
markets  shall  be  prohibited:  When  the  law 
shall  everywhere  regulate  to  a  reasonable  fig- 
ure the  number  of  birds  which  a  man  may  take 
in  a  day's  hunt:  These  laws  to  apply  every- 
where that  game  is  hunted.  These  things  must 
come  soon  or  the  question  of  game  protection 
will  be  solved  for  good  and  all — and  not  to  your 


128  FEATHERED  GAME 

wish  and  pleasure  either,  my  brother  sports- 
man. I  am  glad  to  say  that  much  of  this  has 
been  accomplished  in  my  own  State,  and  noth- 
ing that  has  been  done  before  has  been  of  so 
great  benefit  to  the  cause  of  game  protection 
and  propagation.  The  good  results  of  closing 
the  markets  have  already  been  proven  in  the 
marked  increase  of  the  ruffed  grouse  in  our 
covers.  Though  but  a  few  years'  time  has 
elapsed  the  advantages  have  been  conclusively 
shown  and  the  future  promises  even  better 
things. 

But  big  bags  of  Woodcocks  are  growing  more 
and  more  uncommon.  Even  in  covers  once 
rated  as  "sure  finds"  and  held  good  for  fair 
shooting  under  any  and  all  conditions  the 
' '  blank  day ' '  is  not  the  uncommon  thing  it  once 
was.  If  any  of  our  game  birds  should  be  pro- 
tected, and  of  course  they  should,  surely  the 
Woodcock's  need  is  greatest  of  all.  The  family 
raised  each  season  is  very  small — rarely  are 
there  more  than  four  in  the  brood — and  it  is 
no  wonder  that  the  species  is  growing  yearly 
less  numerous  when  we  remember  how  persist- 
ently they  are  hunted  from  the  British  Pro- 
vinces to  the  Gulf,  having  no  peace  in  any  part 


AMERICAN  WOODCOCK  129 

of  their  range  except  during  a  few  months  of 
spring  and  early  summer  in  the  north.  With 
the  exception  of  one  State  there  is  no  protection 
whatever  for  Woodcocks  in  the  South. 

They  are  certainly  decreasing  with  terrible 
rapidity.  For  the  season  just  passed  I  am  un- 
able to  find  in  a  tolerably  large  acquaintance  of 
brush  gunners  one  man  whose  total  of  Wood- 
cocks was  not  materially  less  than  in  any  former 
season.  My  own  score  was  less  than  half  the 
usual  number,  while  of  ruffed  grouse  I  cap- 
tured a  half  more  than  in  any  former  year,  and 
I  think  this  was  a  general  condition  of  things 
with  the  shooting  fraternity  in  this  section. 
With  all  the  hunters'  demands  upon  him  Mr. 
Bonasa  Umbellus  is  more  than  holding  his  own. 

Of  course,  in  the  case  of  the  Woodcock  or 
any  migratory  bird,  legislation  by  any  one 
State  or  section  of  the  country  can  do  little  for 
its  preservation,  so  that  everywhere  bird  lovers 
and  sportsmen  alike  must  work  together,  and 
that  right  soon,  if  they  would  save  this  noble 
game  bird  from  extinction  in  the  not  far  distant 
future.  Brother  sportsman,  wherever  you  are, 
will  you  lend  a  hand? 


130  FEATHERED  GAME 


WILSON'S    SNIPE.    AMERICAN    SNIPE. 
"ENGLISH  SNIPE."    "JACK  SNIPE." 

(Gallinago    delicata.) 

Through  a  common  and  widespread  error 
this  American  citizen  is  often  called  the  "Eng- 
lish Snipe."  This  last  is  one  of  the  species 
of  the  Old  World,  an  extremely  rare  visitor 
from  Greenland,  to  which  place  it  occasionally 
strays  from  Europe.  The  difference  between 
the  two  birds  is  slight,  however,  and  in  size, 
form,  habits  and  general  appearance  they  are 
nearly  identical.  The  distinguishing  points, 
then,  are  these:  the  European  species,  poor 
thing,  has  only  from  twelve  to  fourteen  feath- 
ers in  his  rudder,  and  the  barrings  on  the  flanks 
and  axillars  are  much  fainter  than  is  produced 
under  a  republican  form  of  government.  Our 
own  fortunate  fellow  citizen  (as  you  have  prob- 
ably noted  a  thousand  times  when  they  have 
risen  before  your  gun)  is  the  possessor  of  from 
sixteen  to  eighteen  tail  feathers  and  heavy  black 
barrings  on  the  flanks  and  axillars,  but  it  is  the 
fashion  with  some  gunners  to  suppose  when 
they  have  taken  an  exceptionally  fine  bird  that 


WILSON'S  SNIPE  131 

they  have  captured  an  "English  Snipe,"  think- 
ing he  must  be  a  "better"  bird  than  our  own. 

Wilson's  Snipe,  under  his  many  names,  is 
widely  and  favorably  known  in  this  country. 
His  winter  range  takes  him  to  South  America 
and  his  spring  flights  carry  him  far  into  the 
north.  This  last  movement  sometimes  com- 
mences in  March  and  is  usually  over  by  the  last 
of  April  or  the  first  of  May.  They  remain 
with  us  later  in  the  fall  than  do  any  other  of  the 
shore-birds.  The  writer  has  shot  belated  trav- 
elers after  Jack  Frost  had  placed  his  signet 
upon  all  the  feeding  places  and  "pondholes" 
above  the  reach  of  the  tide. 

The  Snipe  has  a  peculiar  habit  called  "drum- 
ming," not  widely  different  from  the  wood- 
cock's spring-time  vagaries,  and,  like  these,  per- 
formed when  on  the  wing.  This  is  said  to  occur 
both  during  the  spring  and  fall  months,  even 
more  often  in  the  latter  season.  As  to  this  I 
cannot  say,  since  few  Snipe  are  seen  in  my  sec- 
tion during  the  breeding  season  nor  is  spring 
shooting  looked  upon  with  much  favor  here, 
probably  more  because  of  game  scarcity  at  the 
time  than  from  any  unusual  virtue  of  our  citi- 
zens.    Thus  far  the  writer  has  seen  this  per- 


132  FEATHERED  GAME 

forroance  but  once,  and  then  in  the  legitimate 
shooting  season.  It  was  a  bright  October  day 
when  a  single  Snipe,  the  sole  dweller  in  the 
marsh-land  near  by,  entertained  me  in  some- 
thing after  this  manner:  The  bird  mounted 
upward  fully  one  hundred  yards,  flying  at  great 
speed  in  wide  circles,  then  suddenly  dropped 
like  a  stone  almost  to  the  earth,  his  wings  half 
closed  and  moving  rapidly.  This  was  repeated 
several  times.  The  "drumming"  sound  is  sup- 
posed to  be  due  to  the  action  of  the  air  upon 
the  stiff  wing  quills  in  their  rapid  motion,  and 
the  music  thus  produced  is  very  like  that  made 
by  the  small  boy  when  "humming  a  nail."  At 
times  a  number  of  Snipe  join  together  in  this 
performance.  When  this  occurs  they  are  apt 
to  be  very  wild  and  difficult  of  approach,  so  we 
are  told. 

The  Snipe  nests  in  some  dry  tussock  in  the 
midst  of  the  marsh,  usually  laying  four  eggs, 
of  a  grayish  green  color,  splashed  with  dark 
brown  spots.  The  young  generally  appear  dur- 
ing the  latter  half  of  June.  A  few  of  these 
birds  breed  in  the  extensive  marshes  about  the 
Maine  lakes,  wandering  into  the  tide-waters 
late  in  September,  but  the  best  snipe  shooting 


WILSON'S  SNIPE  133 

on  these  coasts  conies  after  one  or  two  sharp 
frosts  have  closed  their  free  lunch  in  the 
swamps  of  the  interior,  driving  the  birds  from 
their  summer  ranges  and  reminding  them  that 
it  is  time  to  look  for  pleasanter  quarters  fur- 
ther south.  They  form  no  large  flocks,  coming 
along  in  " wisps"  of  two  or  three,  mostly  at 
night,  but,  I  think,  not  infrequently  by  day. 
Authorities  are  divided  as  to  this  bird's  habit 
of  migration,  some  saying  that  the  Snipe  al- 
ways migrates  by  night,  but  from  my  own  ob- 
servation I  am  satisfied  that  he  travels  in  the 
daylight  also.  I  remember  seeing  a  flock  of 
seven  (the  largest  number  that  I  ever  saw 
traveling  together)  arrive  in  the  marsh  in  mid- 
afternoon,  and  my  companion  and  I  had  the 
pleasure  of  making  it  our  own  "personally 
conducted  excursion"  before  it  left.  What 
seems  most  remarkable  to  us  was  the  fact  that 
when  we  flushed  them,  after  making  a  few  cir- 
cles in  the  air,  they  would  come  back  to  our 
whistles  just  as  a  bunch  of  plover  might  have 
done.  This  is  almost  the  only  occasion  on 
which  I  have  seen  them  pay  any  attention  to  a 
call,  and  presume  that  then  the  little  family 
did  not  want  to  be  separated — nor  did  we  our- 


134  FEATHERED  GAME 

selves  want  it  split  up,  so,  apparently  every- 
body was  pleased  for  once. 

The  Snipe  is  a  fine  fellow  and  a  worthy  ac- 
quaintance for  any  gunner.  He  usually  lies 
well  to  the  dog  and  gives  forth  a  fairly  strong 
scent  which  a  good  dog  will  perceive  at  some 
distance.  He  closely  resembles  his  highly  es- 
teemed cousin,  the  woodcock,  in  his  mode  of 
life,  getting  his  living  by  boring  in  the  mud  of 
the  swamps  and  boggy  places,  both  sea  marsh 
and  inland,  feeding  on  the  worms  and  larvae 
found  there  just  as  the  woodcock  does  in  the 
moist  places  in  the  upland  and  the  woods.  I 
have  often  known  of  Snipe  being  shot  in  a 
woodcock  cover,  and  in  one  instance  it  took  six 
cartridges  to  bring  him  to  grass — this,  too,  by 
good  woodcock  shots.  That  they  were  greatly 
surprised  at  seeing  him  there  and  at  hearing 
his  indignant  "Sca-a-aipe!  Sca-a-aipe!"  as  he 
dodged  about  among  the  branches  may  have 
had  something  to  do  with  their  poor  shooting. 
It  may  also  be  that  the  thickly  growing  brush 
added  a  few  extra  aerial  gymnastics  to  a  flight 
which  is  under  any  conditions  sufficiently  erratic 
for  most  wing-shots. 

As  a  rule  it  is  in  the  spring  that  I  meet  Mr. 


Z 


ANiV« 


-•'■■-.         •■■-:.    --     ' 


WILSON'S  SNIPE  135 

Snipe  in  the  woods,  along  the  brook-banks  and 
in  the  drain-holes  in  the  fields;  perhaps  be- 
cause the  marshes  are  then  swept  bare  of  cover 
by  the  ice  of  winter.  He  is  commonly  content 
with  the  salt  marshes  alongshore  in  the  fall  mi- 
grations, but  at  any  season  will  go  into  any 
place,  whether  marsh  or  upland,  which  can  fur- 
nish him  a  square  meal  and  a  soggy,  moist  soil 
for  his  long  bill  to  probe  and  bore  into.  You 
may  meet  him  in  many  a  seemingly  unlikely 
spot:  I  remember  how  near  I  was  to  losing  a 
fine  shot  at  a  Snipe  because  of  too  little  confi- 
dence in  my  dog, — a  youngster, — who  was  ap- 
parently pointing  a  flock  of  hens  in  a  farmer's 
dooryard,  within  twenty  yards  of  the  house  and 
a  mile  at  least  from  any  snipe  country.  The 
puppy  stood  firm  and  refused  to  leave  his  post 
until  his  slow-witted  master  should  come  and 
do  his  part.  I  am  glad  to  say  that  I  did  not 
disappoint  my  dog  that  time. 

When  in  our  New  England  marshes  one  of 
October's  perfect  days  follows  a  sharp  frost — 
and  if  the  wind  comes  briskly  out  of  the  north- 
west it  is  no  harm — such  a  day  means  that  it  is 
time  to  visit  that  stretch  of  mire  and  salt  grass 
which  you  know  affords  the  best  cover  for  Snipe 


136  FEATHERED  GAME 

and  that  there  is  a  fair  prospect  of  getting  a 
good  bag  of  birds,  provided,  always,  that  you 
can  handle  a  gun  with  the  skill  needful  to  cut 
down  the  squeaking  gray  streak  which  doubles 
and  twists  away  in  front  of  you.  He  gets  under 
way  about  as  soon  as  any  bird  that  flies,  and 
unless  he  lies  close  you  must  do  the  very  quick- 
est and  most  accurate  work  to  stop  him.  There 
is,  in  my  humble  opinion,  no  marsh  gunning  to 
be  compared  with  snipe-shooting  over  a  good 
dog,  with  birds  plenty  and  not  too  wild.  As  a 
rule  they  do  not  like  to  leave  a  good  feeding 
ground  and  so  allow  the  sportsman  to  come 
close  before  flushing,  thus  a  man  who  knows 
his  ground  may  make  a  fair  bag  of  birds  with- 
out a  dog;  but,  to  make  an  Irishman's  "bull," 
the  pleasure  is  doubled  when  shared  with  your 
four-footed  chum,  for  his  every  lithe  move- 
ment, graceful  line  and  beautiful  pose  is  plainly 
seen. 

Probably  no  bird  which  comes  under  the 
sportsman's  eye  has  such  a  reputation  as  a 
dodger.  He  may  throw  summersaults  sidewise 
or  endwise,  or  he  may  travel  as  straight  as  a 
honey-laden  bee,  but  however  he  may  steer  his 
course  he  will  have  a  full  head  of  steam  on  and 


WILSON'S  SNIPE  137 

move  plenty  fast  enough,  be  sure  of  that! 
When  he  flushes  close  to  the  gun  he  is  very  apt 
to  think  that  a  little  irregularity  on  his  part 
may  add  interest  to  the  occasion,  and  in  such 
lines  he  is  very  much  at  home.  Some  of  his 
curves  would  make  a  "ball  tosser's"  fortune. 
If,  however,  we  wait  until  the  cunning  rascal 
has  twisted  his  little  twist  and  finally  straight- 
ened out  for  some  more  healthy  scene  we  may 
cut  loose  with  a  fair  chance  of  gathering  him, 
for  he  is  not  "hard  lived"  and  a  few  pellets 
will  stop  him.  But  even  this  plan  will  not  al- 
ways bring  about  their  destruction,  for  some 
old  veterans  of  the  bog  will  corkscrew  for  a 
hundred  yards  with  their  heads  over  their 
shoulders  and  their  keen  eyes  following  your 
every  movement,  dropping  suddenly  to  earth 
and  running  a  short  distance  to  flush  even 
wilder  next  time.  Such  citizens  are  hard  to 
deal  with;  still,  we  can  work  down  upon  them 
with  the  wind  and  so  have  a  larger  percentage 
of  cross  shots  where  it  is  only  a  question  of 
proper  leading,  or  we  may  take  some  day  when 
there  is  a  strong  breeze  blowing  and  work  with 
the  air  in  our  faces.  We  shall  thus  have  a  fair 
chance,  as  they  invariably  rise  against  the  wind 


138  FEATHERED  GAME 

and  do  not  then  twist  so  much,  often  offering 
for  a  moment  an  almost  stationary  mark, 
which,  if  you  are  a  "snap  shot,"  makes  your 
opportunity.  May  you  improve  it  ever!  My 
own  system  is  to  snap  at  them  as  quickly  as 
possible  and  make  ready  at  once  to  miss  an- 
other. For  myself,  I  prefer  to  work  across 
and  against  the  breeze,  thus  giving  the  dog 
more  advantage.  The  dog's  part  is  ever  more 
than  half  the  pleasure  for  me — perhaps  be- 
cause it  is  so  much  better  done. 

You  can  see  many  signs  of  their  occupancy 
as  you  trudge  through  the  mire — the  borings 
in  the  black,  oozy  mud,  the  "whitewash"  where 
they  have  fed — and  in  the  stubble  where  the 
farmer  has  cut  "salt  hay"  for  bedding  for  his 
cattle  you  start  them  singly  and  in  pairs,  keep- 
ing dog,  gun  and  yourself  well  occupied  in 
downing  the  swift-flying  "longbills"  which 
have  arrived  during  the  night.  No  other  of  the 
"bay  snipe,"  as  the  game  waders  are  termed, 
furnish  so  good  sport  for  dog  and  gun  as  does 
Wilson's  Snipe.  Probably  the  Grassbird  ranks 
next  in  game  qualities,  as  the  others  are  not  to 
be  hunted  with  a  dog  but  are  shot  over  ' '  stools ' ' 
or  by  stealthy  approach.     If  you  have  hunted 


WILSON'S  SNIPE  139 

the  place  much  you  will  know  just  where  to 
find  the  birds,  and  have  in  mind  every  stretch 
of  mud,  pondhole  and  clump  of  grass  where  you 
have  found  them  before.  Sometimes  you  may 
see  the  Snipe  arriving  in  the  marsh.  Suddenly 
he  appears  to  you — where  he  came  from  you 
know  not — but  there  he  is!  With  rapid  wing 
strokes  he  dashes  around  the  marsh  a  hundred 
yards  up,  seeking  a  suitable  place  on  which  to 
rest  and  feed.  His  shining  wing  flickers  in 
the  sun  as  the  light  colored  under  parts  are 
brought  into  sight  and  covered  again,  and  he 
shows  up  sharp  and  clear  against  the  blue  Oc- 
tober sky  as  he  goes  darting  over  the  tall  wav- 
ing grass  and  stretches  of  blue  water,  circling 
about  in  silence — a  marked  contrast  to  any 
other  shorebird,  which  would  have  called  and 
whistled  his  arrival  to  every  dweller  in  the 
marsh,  both  friend  and  foe.  Small  success  at- 
tends your  most  alluring  whistle  for  rarely  does 
the  Snipe  pay  attention  to  any  enticing  call. 
Our  hero  is  unsocial  and  seldom  cares  for  so- 
ciety, even  of  his  own  aristocratic  set,  rarely 
traveling  in  bunches  of  more  than  three  birds 
and  more  often  coming  alone.  Now  he  has 
found  a  place  to  his  liking  and  half  closing  his 


140  FEATHERED  GAME 

wings  he  pitches  headlong  downward,  almost 
perpendicularly  to  the  ground.  Surely  he  must 
be  dashed  in  pieces  on  the  earth — but  no, — a 
bending  of  his  body,  a  sudden  spreading  of  his 
wings  when  only  a  foot  from  the  ground  and  he 
alights  upon  his  feet  as  gently  as  ever  thistle- 
down rested  upon  the  summer  sea.  A  wary 
glance  about  him,  and  satisfied  that  all  is  well, 
he  begins  feeding. 

Now  after  him !  Across  the  narrow  creek 
with  its  slippery,  shaky  edges,  and  the 
brown  water  hurrying  seaward  with  the  fall- 
ing tide.  Carefully,  now!  It  is  deep  here. 
The  pointer  plunges  in  and  with  half  a  dozen 
rapid  strokes  gains  the  other  side.  Bal- 
ancing on  grassy  hummocks  which  quiver  be- 
neath your  tread  you  follow  him.  Fifty  yards 
ahead  there  is  a  small  "pond-hole,"  margined 
about  with  black  mud  and  short,  red-topped 
grass,  and  this,  you  are  sure,  is  his  journey's 
end.  The  dog  is  well  in  advance,  going  along 
with  a  springy,  slashing  stride,  but  he  pulls 
up  short,  almost  "turning  a  handspring"  in  his 
sudden  stand.  You  approach  and  wait,  with 
nerves  a-tingle,  for  the  bird  to  flush,  then  order 
your  dog  on,  only  to  find  that  he  will  not  move. 


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WILSON'S  SNIPE  141 

At  this  yon  beat  up  the  grass  in  front  and  on 
either  side,  quartering  in  all  directions,  but  still 
no  Snipe,  and  in  wonder  and  disgust  you  are 
tempted  to  give  it  up,  your  faith  in  your  favor- 
ite sorely  shaken.  But  the  dog  stands  firm,  and 
just  here  you  plunge  thigh  deep  into  a  hidden 
drain-hole.  "Scaipe!  Scaipe!"  Up  between 
your  feet  with  startled  squeak  springs  the  ob- 
ject of  your  search.  Away  like  a  streak  the  lit- 
tle gray  imp  goes,  darting,  dodging  and  zig- 
zagging, now  right,  now  left,  and  all  the  time 
adding  to  the  distance  between  himself  and  the 
threatening  danger.  You  wrench  yourself  up 
to  the  solid  ground  with  a  desperate  effort  and 
pull  yourself  together,  for  it  will  never  do  now 
to  let  him  get  away  unscathed,  and  when  by 
some  unaccountable  accident  you 

" Hustle  him  down  wi'  a  slug  in  his  wing," 
(for  they  do  sometimes  blunder  into  a  charge 
of  shot),  before  he  is  added  to  the  collection  in 
your  game  bag  let  us  look  at  his  markings  and 
peculiarities.  The  pup  has  retrieved  him  beau- 
tifully, sitting  up  to  deliver  the  prize  into  your 
hand  with  scarcely  a  feather  ruffled.  You  han- 
dle him  with  much  satisfaction  for  he  is  a  good 
bird  and  you  feel  that  you  have  fairly  earned 


142  FEATHERED  GAME 

him.  He  may  weigh  six  ounces  if  appearances 
count  for  anything.  He  is  ten  inches  or  so  in 
length,  and  in  extent  about  eighteen  inches. 
His  head  is  mainly  black  with  a  strip  of  pale 
yellow  ochre  over  the  crown,  and  on  each  side 
of  the  head  another  stripe  of  the  same  color 
running  to  and  above  the  eyes.  Neck  all 
around  streaked  with  black  and  pale  brownish 
yellow,  the  black  predominating  behind.  The 
wing  quills  and  upper  coverts  are  brownish 
black,  these  last  with  tawny  reddish  and  yel- 
lowish markings.  On  his  back  the  same  dark 
brown  color,  the  scapulars,  edged  with  golden 
yellow  and  chestnut,  making  long  stripes  on 
each  side  when  the  bird  is  at  rest  with  closed 
wings.  The  rump  is  black,  the  feathers  tipped 
with  white;  inside  of  wings,  axillars  and  the 
flanks  white  with  regular  barrings  of  black. 
Tail  feathers  black,  tipped  with  a  rich  chestnut 
band,  which  is  again  divided  by  a  narrow  black 
line,  and  the  ends  of  the  feathers  lighter  chest- 
nut, fading  to  a  whitish  hue.  His  belly  is 
white;  throat  and  breast  yellowish,  with  strag- 
gling lines  of  dull  brown. 

Let  us  hope  that  you  will  appreciate  him  at 
the  table.     If  you  are  a  judge  of  the  good  things 


WILSON  S  SNIPE  143 

of  life  there  is  little  room  for  doubt  that  you 
will,  for  at  any  season  the  Snipe  is  tender  and 
of  good  flavor. 

And  so  the  sportsman  tramps  cheerily  across 
his  mucky  pleasure-ground,  his  eyes  alight  with 
a  soul-satisfying  content  as  his  dog  careers 
about  in  graceful  quartering,  head  high  and 
tail  a-switching.  No  fear  that  he  will  pass  a 
single  twister — not  he!  Oho!  Another  one! 
Mark  that  sudden  swerve  up-wind — those  quiv- 
ering nostrils  as  he  "snuffs  the  tainted  gale." 
And  now,  like  the  work  of  some  grand  sculp- 
tor, he  stands  motionless  in  the  open  sunlight, 
beauty  and  life  in  every  line  and  curve,  his 
muscles  tense  and  rigid,  awaiting  his  master's 
coming.  No  less  eager  than  his  dog,  and  hast- 
ening as  fast  as  hip  boots  and  sucking  mire  will 
allow,  the  sportsman  moves  up.  He  gets  him- 
self into  position  to  shoot  quickly,  tests  the 
safety  catch  to  be  sure  his  weapon  is  ready,  and 
then  chirrups  to  his  dog  to  move  in.  Whiz-z-z ! 
Something  streaks  it  from  the  grass  and  mire 
just  ahead  of  the  dog — "Scaipe! — Scaipe!" — 
a  rasping  note  emitted  from  a  small  form  fast 
turning  out  corkscrews  of  ever-growing  dis- 
tance.     Bang!      Bang!      May    the    recording 


144  FEATHERED  GAME 

angel  turn  a  deaf  ear  to  the  all-too-energetic  ex- 
pressions of  the  sportsman,  who  is  gazing  earn- 
estly into  space  before  him  with  disgust  in  every 
lineament  and  blistering  eloquence  hurrying 
from  his  tongue!  Two  empty  cartridge  cases 
idly  smoking  in  the  mire  represent  another 
waste  of  ammunition,  and  still  the  would-be 
slayer  stares,  unable  to  believe  the  evidence  of 
his  eyes.  Yet  the  reason  for  his  failure  is  not 
far  to  seek — our  friend,  as  someone  has  beauti- 
fully said,  has  "shot  zig  just  as  the  Snipe 
turned  zag. " 

There  is  no  fear  that  the  sportsman  of  the 
east  will  deserve  opprobrium  because  of  too 
much  snipe-slaughter.  That  is  hardly  possible 
under  our  game  conditions.  Here  are  no  such 
chances  as  the  spring  flights  afford  our  west- 
ern brothers.  Somehow  Snipe  are  rare  in  that 
season,  and  even  in  the  fall  months  a  dozen 
Snipe  to  a  gun  in  a  day  is  a  good  killing  in  most 
New  England  marshes.  Still,  with  the  "yel- 
lowlegs"  and  "grassbirds"  and  on  occasion 
the  stray  teal  and  black  duck,  our  gunners 
will  make  a  satisfactory  bagful.  To  many  the 
uncertainty  as  to  what  the  charge  may  be 
unloosed    at   next    lends    an   added    charm   to 


THE  BROWN-BACK  145 

marsh  gunning,  but  for  myself,  my  shooting 
ability  furnishes  all  the  charm  of  uncertainty 
needed. 


THE  BROWN-BACK.    DOWITCHER. 
RED-BREASTED  SNIPE. 

(Macrorhamphus  griseus.) 

At  certain  seasons  this  is  a  common  bird  all 
along  the  Atlantic  coast  line,  choosing  the  long 
stretches  of  sandy  beach  rather  than  the  home 
of  Wilson's  snipe  in  fresh  water  bog  and  salt 
marsh.  These  birds  are  but  little  known  in 
New  England  save  on  the  seashore,  where  dur- 
ing the  migrations  they  are  for  a  few  days 
abundant,  then  are  gone  and  nothing  more  is 
seen  of  them  until  the  next  flight  arrives.  They 
appear  on  our  beaches  on  their  northward  jour- 
ney sometimes  during  the  latter  half  of  April 
though  oftener  late  in  May,  and  stay  with  us 
but  a  day  or  so  at  most,  returning  to  the  south 
more  leisurely,  generally  in  August.  They 
breed  far  away  in  the  north  and  in  their  fall 
migrations  often  follow  the  retreating  sun  into 
the  southern  hemisphere,  journeying  southward 
to  Brazil. 


146  FEATHERED  GAME 

Unlike  Wilson's  snipe,  which  travels  in  small 
bunches  of  two  or  three  birds,  or  at  the  most 
the  members  of  a  family  making  np  the  party, 
the  Brown-backs  fly  in  large  flocks  more  after 
the  habit  of  the  sandpipers,  which  family  they 
resemble  in  many  other  particulars. 

Less  wary  than  the  average  of  the  shore- 
birds,  ordinarily  but  little  difficulty  is  experi- 
enced in  getting  within  shot  range.  They  fly  in 
solid  masses  and  their  flocks  in  close  order  offer 
the  best  of  chances  to  the  shooter  whose  ambi- 
tion is  to  make  a  big  bag  of  birds,  so  that  they 
are  killed  in  great  numbers  if  the  gunner  hap- 
pens upon  them  during  their  short  stay  on  our 
coast.  All  things  considered  it  is  fortunate  for 
them  that  they  arrive  unexpectedly  and  depart 
without  notice  after  no  long  stay.  Indeed,  it  is 
a  matter  for  wonder  that  the  shorebirds  were 
not  exterminated  long  ago.  It  would  almost 
seem  impossible  to  keep  up  the  supply  in  the 
face  of  the  gunner's  demands,  especially  when 
we  remember  how  small  are  the  families  raised. 

The  fall  migrations  do  not  bring  so  many  of 
these  birds  upon  our  shores  as  do  the  spring 
flights.  It  may  be  that  the  returning  tourists 
pass  to  the  westward  of  us,  or  perhaps  out  to 


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THE  BROWN-BACK  147 

sea ;  but  whatever  the  reason  the  fact  remains. 
Those  which  do  visit  us  are  less  inclined  to 
hurry  their  departure  than  in  the  spring  when 
untrammeled  by  young  birds  of  limited  flight 
powers. 

If  the  gunner's  good  genius  leads  him  to  the 
beach  on  the  day  of  their  arrival  he  may  chance 
to  have  some  sport  that  will  long  be  remem- 
bered. Down  on  some  long  sandbar  in  the  early 
morning,  snug  in  his  shallow  pit  or  grass-hid- 
den blind  with  his  life-like  bunch  of  decoys  set 
twenty  yards  or  so  away,  the  lucky  fellow  is 
almost  certain  to  make  a  good  bag  of  birds. 
In  the  air  their  flocks  are  the  most  compact 
of  all  the  bay  birds,  and  in  search  of  food  they 
pass  over  the  beach  and  waves  at  from  ten  to 
fifteen  feet  above  the  surface.  Their  migra- 
tory flights  are  often  made  at  a  considerable 
height,  though  if  a  whistle  can  reach  them  they 
are  apt  to  come  down  for  investigation.  Hear- 
ing the  mimicry  of  their  own  notes  and  anxious 
to  aid  those  who  have  been  cut  down  by  the  dis- 
charge they  will  return  to  the  decoys  not  once 
but  many  times  until  the  flock  has  been  sadly 
reduced. 

In  the  west  there  is  a  variety  of  this  bird 


148  FEATHERED  GAME 

averaging  slightly  larger,  a  little  darker  in  color 
and  having  a  somewhat  longer  bill,  Macrorham- 
phus  griseus  scolopaceus.  This  is  as  rarely 
taken  on  the  range  of  the  eastern  variety  as  is 
the  eastern  bird  in  the  country  of  his  relation, 
but  if  they  chance  to  meet  they  travel  together 
in  most  cousinly  fashion. 

Our  eastern  bird  is  marked  thus :  above,  black, 
varied  with  reddish  brown,  tawny  yellow,  and 
on  the  back  with  white ;  these  last  colors  mainly 
on  the  tips  and  edges  of  the  feathers.  Top  of 
the  head  dusky;  a  whitish  line  running  from 
the  base  of  the  bill  over  the  eye ;  a  dusky  patch 
extending  from  the  bill  to  the  eye.  Throat, 
breast  and  sides  russet  brown  and  reddish, 
paler  underneath  and  with  dusky  marks  and 
barrings.  Tail  and  its  upper  coverts  black, 
with  white  or  light  reddish  barrings.  Rump 
white,  showing  sharply  as  the  bird  flies.  Bill 
and  feet  greenish  black;  feet  slightly  webbed, 
so  that  the  bird,  like  most  shorebirds,  is  a  fair 
swimmer  at  need.  The  female  is  similarly  col- 
ored though  a  trifle  paler  and  is  a  bit  smaller 
than  her  mate.  Though  not  so  "stocky"  in 
figure,  the  Brown-back  is  altogether  snipe-like  in 
appearance. 


THE  STILT  SANDPIPER  149 

The  length  of  this  species  is  from  ten  to 
eleven  and  one-half  inches ;  its  extent  from  sev- 
enteen to  nineteen  inches ;  bill  from  two  to  three 
inches  long,  varying  much  in  specimens.  A 
prime  favorite  with  the  shore  gunner  and  a  fine 
table  bird,  tender  and  well  flavored. 


THE  STILT  SANDPIPER. 

(Micropalama  himantopus.) 

Supposed  to  be  found  in  all  parts  of  the  con- 
tinent, this  is  a  rare  bird  in  any  part  of  North 
America  and  of  even  more  uncommon  occur- 
rence westward  of  the  Rockies.  This  species 
breeds  in  the  summer  range  of  the  family  in  the 
far  north  and  in  winter  goes  away  to  the  south 
with  the  other  shorebirds  into  their  ranges  of 
the  West  Indies,  Central  and  South  America. 
As  a  rule  it  travels  in  small  flocks  of  its  own 
kind  or  associates  with  the  dowitchers  and  lesser 
yellow-legs,  to  the  advantage  of  both  these  spe- 
cies, for  the  Stilt  Sandpiper  either  has  less  con- 
fidence in  mankind  or  is  gifted  with  a  more 
critical  taste  in  music  and  is  not  so  readily  de- 
ceived by  the  marsh  gunner's  whistle  as  are 
its  friends.     In  its  nesting,  food  and  life  habits 


150  FEATHERED  GAME 

very  similar  to  the  little  yellow-legs.  Very  few 
nests  have  been  found,  however. 

The  summer  and  winter  plumages  differ  con- 
siderably from  each  other,  the  breeding  dress 
being  quite  like  that  of  the  brownback  while 
the  winter  bird  is  mainly  clad  in  ashy  grays  and 
white.  Above,  the  summer  dress  is  dusky  or 
black  of  varying  intensity,  the  edges  and  tips 
of  the  feathers  marked  with  white  or  reddish 
yellow.  A  dusky  line  running  from  the  eyes  to 
the  bill,  and  above  the  eyes  a  streak  of  light 
brownish  red.  Tail  feathers  gray,  whitening 
on  the  edges,  and  sometimes  in  the  centres  the 
same  shade.  Upper  tail  coverts  white  with 
black  bars.  Wing  quills  dusky,  blackening  at 
the  tips.  Below,  reddish  with  black  and  white 
barrings  and  streakings ;  bill,  legs  and  feet  dull 
greenish  black.  The  bird  is  about  eight  and 
one-half  inches  long;  in  extent  from  sixteen  to 
seventeen  inches. 

An  odd-looking  bird  whose  long  legs  make  it 
merit  well  the  name  of  Stilt  Sandpiper.  It  can 
hardly  be  mistaken  by  anyone  having  an  ac- 
quaintance with  the  family. 


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BAIRD'S  SANDPIPER  151 


BAIRD'S  SANDPIPER. 

(Actodromas  bairdii.) 

Though  probably  not  so  rare  here  as  com- 
monly supposed,  this  sandpiper  is  nowhere 
numerous  along  the  coast  of  North  America. 
It  is  generally  distributed  throughout  the  in- 
terior of  our  country,  and  while  very  rare  on 
the  Pacific  coast  of  North  America  south  of 
Alaska,  is  said  to  be  a  regular  visitor  to  the 
west  coast  of  South  America. 

This  variety  differs  but  little  in  its  habits  and 
mode  of  life  from  our  better  known  ' '  peeps ' '  ex- 
cept that  as  a  rule  it  travels  in  smaller  flocks 
and  is  less  dependent  on  mud  flats  or  marsh 
for  its  living.  It  is  as  much  at  home  in  the 
mountain  pasture  or  prairie  land  as  anywhere, 
and  like  the  "upland,"  is  content  to  dwell  in 
the  highlands,  far  from  ordinary  shorebird 
haunts.  In  such  places  its  food  is  of  grasshop- 
pers, bugs  and  berries.  In  the  east,  Baird's 
Sandpiper  is  found  in  the  company  of  any  of 
our  own  varieties. 

This  bird  breeds  in  the  Arctic  regions  arriv- 
ing early  on  the  the  nesting  grounds,  and  laying 


152  FEATHERED  GAME 

four  eggs  for  its  contribution  toward  the  con- 
tinuance of  its  race. 

In  appearance  this  species  is  very  near  to 
the  white-rumped  sandpiper,  with  the  same  gen- 
eral scheme  of  coloring  though  of  grayer  tones 
and  with  dusky  instead  of  white  on  the  rump 
as  in  the  other.  The  two  are  close  together  in 
measurements ;  if  there  is  any  difference  Baird's 
is  a  trifle  the  smaller,  being  about  seven  inches 
long  and  about  fifteen  inches  in  sail  spread. 
The  edges  of  the  feathers  are  lighter — reddish 
yellow  in  this  bird — and  the  feet  and  legs  are 
black.  The  young  bird  in  August  and  the  old 
bird  in  winter  dress  are  even  paler,  and  at  any 
age  and  in  any  plumage  Baird's  Sandpiper  is 
noticeably  lighter  in  color  than  is  the  white- 
rumped.  But  if  there  is  any  doubt  as  to  the 
identity  of  a  specimen  the  white  or  dusky  color 
of  the  rump  will  place  the  bird  at  once.  The 
only  other  "  peep  "  likely  to  be  mistaken  for 
this  one  is  the  "  grassbird,"  or  pectoral  sand- 
piper, which  is  considerably  larger  and  has 
darker  centres  and  ruddier  edges  to  the  feath- 
ers of  the  upper  parts. 


THE  "PEEPS"  153 

THE"  PEEPS." 
SEMIPALMATED  SANDPIPER. 

(Ereunetes  pusillus.) 

LEAST  SANDPIPER. 

Actodromas  minutilla.) 

WHITE-RUMPED   SANDPIPER. 

(Actodromas  fuscicollis.) 

What  will  become  of  the  beginners  in  the 
art  of  wing  shooting  when  the  little  "Sand- 
peep's"  gentle  "peet-weet"  is  no  more  to  be 
heard  along  the  muddy  banks  of  our  marshes 
and  tide-waters?  This  is  a  grave  question  for 
coming  generations  to  solve,  for  the  poor  per- 
secuted little  "peep"  furnishes  the  object  les- 
son in  the  very  first  school — the  kindergarten, 
as  it  were — of  the  shotgun  crank's  education. 

Gentle,  confiding  and  unsuspicious  in  their 
nature,  their  trustful  simplicity  is  the  cause  of 
great  loss  of  life  among  their  close-flying  flocks. 
The  small  boy  with  his  ancient  musket  has 
wrought  great  havoc  in  their  ranks,  and  even 
the  older  gunner  sometimes  takes  a  post-gradu- 


154  FEATHERED  GAME 

ate  course  long  enough  to  get  the  material  for 
a  "sandpeep  pie."  Poor  little  things!  For 
the  one  mouthful  of  goodness  which  makes  your 
small  bodies  thus  must  you  suffer ! 

Out  in  the  marsh  grass  when  the  late  sum- 
mer has  come,  during  the  latter  half  of  August, 
for  a  short  time  the  flocks  of  fleet-winged  little 
birds  come  scurrying  in  with  gentle,  flute-like 
piping,  flying  in  from  outer  islands  and  bar- 
ren ledges  where  they  have  rested  during  the 
high  tide.  Now  the  fast  receding  water  is  leav- 
ing bare  the  soft  black  ooze  of  the  "flats,"  full 
and  overcrowded  with  snails  and  tiny  marine 
creatures,  a  veritable  storehouse  of  good  things 
to  be  had  for  the  taking.  Against  the  watery 
background  their  white  bodies  gleam  an  in- 
stant, and  the  little  fellows  show  like  a  thin 
wreath  of  spray  borne  on  the  wind.  As  they 
dart  in  erratic  flight  another  turn  brings  the 
dark  backs  into  view,  and  next  second  they 
are  lost  as  they  skim  across  the  patches  of 
grass  just  beginning  to  show  above  the  tide. 
Presently  they  "pitch"  in  a  sheltered,  muddy 
cove,  and  in  their  heedless  innocence  may  have 
alighted  almost  at  the  feet  of  their  enemy.  At 
once  they  scatter  and  begin  to  feed,  running 


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THE  "PEEPS"  155 

prettily  with  nimble  and  graceful  steps  over 
the  slimy  surface  which  bears  their  light  forms 
easily.  Mark  how  their  pursuer  flounders,  well 
nigh  mired  in  the  chase.  At  length  a  consider- 
able number  being  together  for  a  brief  instant, 
he  fires.  Another  barrel  when  the  frightened 
little  creatures  are  in  the  air,  and  for  a  hundred 
yards  the  cripples  drop  out  and  struggle  to  get 
ashore  to  hide  in  the  grass. 

The  average  gunner  as  he  happens  upon  these 
little  flocks  seldom  troubles  them.  If  the  beach 
be  covered  with  their  squads  and  companies  he 
may  take  aim  along  his  gun  barrels  at  their 
most  compact  masses  and  figure  out  the  prob- 
able destruction  which  the  pressure  of  his  fin- 
ger might  cause,  then  throwing  the  gun  into 
the  hollow  of  his  arm,  goes  out  of  his  way  that 
he  may  not  disturb  their  happiness.  But  all 
too  often  comes  the  deadly  flash  with  its  fatal 
effects,  and  many  are  killed  and  others,  less 
fortunate,  are  crippled,  to  fall  behind  the  flock 
and  with  their  last  strength  struggle  ashore  to 
await  their  release. 

On  the  high  tide  they  collect  on  the  ledges 
standing  out  of  the  water  and  huddle  in  a  bunch 
on  the  sunny  side.     They  love  to  cuddle  down 


156  FEATHERED  GAME 

on  the  drifting  "thatch"  in  the  quietest  corners 
of  the  marsh.  When  pushing  for  rails  the  gun- 
ner often  interrupts  their  noon-day  nap,  almost 
driving  his  craft  over  them  before  they  take 
wing,  returning  at  once  when  the  boat  has 
passed. 

The  spring  migrations  take  place  during 
April  and  May,  and  they  nest  far  into  the  north. 
It  is  usually  as  late  as  August  fifteenth  before 
they  begin  to  arrive  in  any  numbers  in  New 
England  marshes,  where  they  stay  well  into 
October. 

The  most  common  of  the  Sandpipers  here  are 
the  Least  and  the  Semipalmated.  Both  these 
little  fellows  range  over  a  large  part  of  our 
hemisphere,  the  latter  travelling  from  the  West 
Indies,  Central  and  South  America  to  the  ex- 
treme north,  mainly  on  the  eastern  slope  of  the 
continent.  The  Least  Sandpiper  is  even  more 
of  a  wanderer,  for  besides  covering  the  same 
wide  range  of  country  as  his  cousin  he  finds  time 
to  visit  Europe  occasionally. 

The  Least  Sandpiper  as  we  see  him  in  his 
summer  dress  is  colored  above  with  dusky 
brown  and  black  through  the  centres  of  the 
feathers,  the  edges  tinged  with  reddish  brown 


THE  "PEEPS"  157 

and  white;  rump  blackish;  tail  feathers  dusky, 
growing  grayer  toward  the  outer  feathers; 
wing  quills  dusky ;  a  blackish  line  from  the  bill 
to  the  eye,  and  above  this  a  white  line.  Below, 
mainly  white.  Dusky  specklings  on  a  pale  red- 
dish brown  ground  on  lower  throat,  breast  and 
neck.  Upper  throat  white.  Feet  dull  greenish. 
Iris  brown.  Length  about  five  and  one-half 
inches ;  extent  nearly  eleven  inches. 

The  Semipalmated  Sandpiper  is  much  like 
the  foregoing  in  color,  and  the  two  are  often 
found  together.  This  bird  is  a  very  little  larger 
— perhaps  half  an  inch  longer — and  somewhat 
grayer  in  coloring,  but  in  any  case  may  be 
known  by  the  partial  webbing  of  the  toes.  This 
species  also  nests  northward  to  the  Arctic 
shores. 

The  White-rumped  Piper  is  almost  large 
enough  to  be  worth  shooting.  It  is  from  seven 
to  eight  inches  long,  with  a  wing  spread  of  fif- 
teen inches.  This  is  the  sandpiper  most  com- 
monly found  in  the  marshes  during  September 
and  October,  here  associating  with  the  "grass- 
birds."  It  is  also  a  common  species  inland, 
and  everywhere  one  of  the  most  unsuspicious 
of  the  shorebirds,  paying  no  more  heed  to  an  in- 


158  FEATHERED  GAME 

truder  than  polite  curiosity  demands.  When 
found  on  the  seacoast  it  is  generally  met  along 
the  rocky  shores,  and  from  this  fact  is  called 
by  many  shore  dwellers  the  "rock  peep"  to 
distinguish  him  from  the  smaller  species,  citi- 
zens of  the  "mud  flats."  He  is  marked  much 
like  the  others  but  a  trifle  grayer  in  color  and 
has  a  greenish-black  bill  and  feet.  Breast, 
front  and  sides  of  neck  yellowish  brown, 
streaked  with  dark  brown  and  black  lines. 
Above,  dusky  brown  and  black,  with  lighter 
edges  to  the  feathers;  upper  tail  coverts  pure 
white.  Tail  feathers  blackish,  growing  lighter 
toward  outer  feathers,  these  white-edged.  Be- 
low, white,  spotted  and  streaked  with  dusky  and 
brownish  lines  on  the  sides.  This  species  is 
common  on  the  eastern  half  of  our  continent  and 
and  is  occasionally  found  in  Europe.  It  does 
not  breed  in  the  United  States,  but  goes  far 
north,  as  is  the  habit  of  the  family.  This  bird 
is  also  called  "Bonaparte's  Sandpiper." 


THE  GRASSBIRD  159 


THE  GRASSBIRD.    PECTORAL  SAND- 
PIPER. 

(Actodromas  maculata.) 

One  of  our  commonest  marsh  birds.  Few  of 
our  feathered  friends  are  more  widely  known 
than  is  the  Grassbird.  He  is  found  at  the  dif- 
ferent seasons  in  North,  Central  and  South 
America,  the  West  Indies,  Greenland,  Europe 
and  Asia.  With  us  he  is  but  a  migrant  visitor 
and  is  not  known  to  nest  within  New  England's 
borders,  or  for  that  matter,  elsewhere  in  the 
United  States.  In  fact,  very  little  is  known  of 
their  breeding  habits  as  there  are  very  few  rec- 
ords of  the  finding  of  either  nests  or  eggs.  It 
is  supposed  that  they  nest  in  the  Arctic  regions 
generally. 

They  begin  to  arrive  in  our  latitudes  on  their 
southern  way  during  August,  and  their  flocks 
continue  to  arrive  and  pass  along  until  the  se- 
verer weather  of  the  fall  commences,  by  which 
time  they  are  all  in  the  sunny  south  and  safe 
from  any  danger  of  frost  bite.  Their  migra- 
tory flights  commonly  take  place  at  night,  as 
is  the  rule  of  the  bay  birds.     They  come  along 


160  FEATHERED  GAME 

in  flocks  averaging  from  twenty  to  fifty  mem- 
bers, rarely  more,  and  split  up  into  small  par- 
ties upon  arrival  in  our  marshes,  gathering 
again  into  larger  bunches  when  they  resume 
their  travels. 

The  Grassbird  is  swift  of  wing  and  snipe-like 
in  many  respects,  lying  well  to  the  dog  and  af- 
fording good  sport  when  so  hunted.  From  this 
similarity  of  habits,  their  proper  behavior  in 
dog  society,  their  occasional  darting  flight — 
sometimes  dodging  from  side  to  side  when  much 
alarmed — they  are  called  "Jack-Snipe"  by 
many  gunners,  a  term  more  widely  applied  to 
Wilson's  snipe.  Where  this  name  is  given  the 
Grassbird  the  true  snipe  is  usually  called  the 
"English  snipe."  The  Grassbird  is  known  by 
many  other  names  in  the  different  localities 
which  he  visits,  among  them  "Grass  Snipe," 
"Marsh  Plover,"  and  "Meadow  Snipe,"  most 
gunners  insisting  on  calling  him  a  Snipe,  except 
in  New  England,  where  he  is  generally  known 
as  the  "Grassbird." 

In  times  past  these  birds  were  not  much  mo- 
lested, being  thought  beneath  the  gunner's  no- 
tice and  not  worth  the  ammunition  needed  for 
their  destruction,  but  in  the  present  game  scar- 


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THE  GRASSBIRD  161 

city  conditions  are  changed,  and  now,  since  the 
Grassbirds  are  the  most  numerous  species  of 
the  "bay  snipe"  in  New  England  marshes,  as 
a  consequence  they  pay  the  heaviest  tribute  to 
the  sportsman.  On  ordinary  days  of  shore- 
bird  shooting  there  are  nearly  always  more  of 
this  species  in  the  marsh  gunner's  game  bag 
than  of  any  other.  Of  course  there  are  never- 
to-be-forgotten  days  when  "it  rained  beetle- 
heads,  ' '  or  the  ' '  goldens ' '  were  out  in  force,  but 
as  luck  generally  runs  this  statement  will  hold 
good.  Ordinarily  there  is  small  difficulty  in  ap- 
proaching a  flock;  the  younger  birds  are  espe- 
cially tame  and  even  curious,  often  coming 
within  a  few  yards  of  a  gunner  to  examine  the 
disturber  of  their  peace;  but  again  the  old 
campaigner  will  dash  away  upon  sight  with 
loud,  derisive  whistling  and  a  darting  flight, 
like  the  snipe's,  which,  with  his  smaller  size 
makes  fully  as  difficult  shooting  as  does  Mr. 
Longbill. 

The  Pectoral  Sandpiper,  as  this  bird  is  called 
by  the  scientist,  is  a  lover  of  the  low-lying  wet 
meadows,  either  of  the  salt-  or  fresh-water 
marshes,  seldom  found  on  the  sea  beaches  or  the 
muddy  flats,  but  when  the  salt  hay  has  been  cut 


162  FEATHERED  GAME 

in  the  sea  marshes  of  New  England  there  are 
usually  many  of  this  family  running  about, 
probing  into  the  soft,  oozy  soil,  and  feeding  on 
the  worms,  snails  and  slugs  so  abundant  there. 
They  are  very  welcome  to  the  gunner  since  they 
are  good  table  birds,  fat  and  well-flavored  at 
any  season.  Grassbirds  come  readily  to  the 
gunner's  call,  single  birds  or  flocks  coming 
equally  well  to  the  imitation  of  their  note. 
Their  whistle  is  almost  identical  with  that  of 
the  smaller  sandpipers  and  the  two  are  often 
found  in  company. 

During  the  courtship  the  male  bird  inflates 
the  skin  of  his  throat  and  breast  to  such  an  ex- 
tent that  it  hangs  down  upon  his  breast  like  a 
bag.  From  this  circumstance  comes  the  name, 
Pectoral  Sandpiper.  Yet  he  is  probably  no 
more  ' '  puffed  up  "  at  his  success  than  is  the  hu- 
man bridegroom  at  the  same  important  epoch 
in  his  career. 

The  Grassbird's  clothing  is  of  sober  tints ;  the 
top  of  his  head  brown  with  black  markings, 
these  mainly  in  the  centres  of  the  feathers; 
throat  white ;  sides  of  the  head  and  around  neck 
pale  yellowish  brown  with  small  black  streaks 
running  through  it.  Superciliary  stripe  of  white, 


THE  PURPLE  SANDPIPER        163 

loral  patch  dark  brown.  Scapulars  and  tertia- 
ries  dark  brown  and  black  with  buff  or  whitish 
edges.  Wing  coverts  light  grayish  brown  with 
lighter,  even  whitish,  edges  to  the  feathers. 
Primaries  dark  brown.  Rump  and  tail  coverts 
brownish  black.  Tail  with  dark  brown  central 
feathers,  growing  lighter  toward  the  sides,  outer 
pair  margined  with  white.  Feet  and  legs  dull 
olive.  In  length  from  eight  to  nine  and  one- 
half  inches,  and  ranging  from  fifteen  to  seven- 
teen in  extent.  An  overgrown  least  sandpiper 
in  appearance. 

THE  PURPLE  SANDPIPER.    "ROCK- 
WEED  BIRD." 

(Arquatella  maritima.) 

With  the  winter  comes  the  Purple  Sandpiper 
out  of  the  north,  seeking  warm  weather  in  Jan- 
uary and  February  on  the  New  England  coast ! 
But  then,  he  has  his  own  ideas  as  to  climate. 

This  is  a  dweller  on  the  sea  ledges,  truly 
named  the  "Rockweed  Bird,"  for  on  the  brown 
and  slippery  masses  of  seaweed  on  the  deep- 
water  ledges  he  finds  the  snails  and  marine 
creatures  which  furnish  his  table.     Only  on  the 


164  FEATHERED  GAME 

shores  of  the  outer  islands  where  he  has  no 
company  but  the  swash  of  the  waves  and  the 
seething  hiss  of  driving  snow  as  it  is  swallowed 
up  in  the  sea  is  the  Purple  Sandpiper  at  home. 
Hardy  indeed  is  he  and  no  stress  of  weather 
seems  to  trouble  him.  He  is  the  only  resident 
awake  when  the  sleepy  prowler,  planning  death 
and  destruction  to  the  sea  ducks,  is  headed  for 
his  hiding  place  among  the  rocks,  and  in  the 
gray  mist  rising  from  the  ocean  he  looks  to  the 
heavy  eyes  of  the  gunner  almost  as  large  as  a 
duck  himself. 

Easy  of  approach  and  fearless  because  seldom 
molested,  since  on  account  of  timing  their  visits 
to  our  coasts  during  the  winter  season  the  shore- 
bird  shooter  entirely  misses  seeing  them  and 
the  winter  gunner  is  after  larger  game,  they 
pay  little  heed  to  an  approaching  boat.  A  gen- 
erous supply  of  suitable  clothing  keeps  them 
comfortable  in  any  weather.  They  may  be  seen 
dozing  complacently  in  the  sun  on  a  winter  af- 
ternoon when  the  mercury  has  gone  down  out  of 
sight  in  the  glass,  for  their  homes  and  chosen 
haunts  are  in  the  north,  and  only  the  closing 
up  of  those  waters  by  the  winter's  ice  forces 
them  into  our  latitudes  at  all. 

This  " hardy  Norseman"  has  the  figure  of  the 


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THE  PURPLE  SANDPIPER        165 

typical  sailorman,  thickset  and  heavy,  more 
compact  in  his  build  than  any  other  of  his  fam- 
ily which  visits  us.  This  may  be  because  he 
has  not  had  to  dodge  shot  and  run  from  the 
summer  gunner  all  through  the  hot  weather; 
thus  he  gets  a  chance  to  put  on  flesh. 

Having  seen  them  only  in  the  winter,  and 
since  they  are  taken  here  at  no  other  season,  it 
may  be  best  to  describe  them  in  the  dress  of  that 
season.  Above,  colored  on  the  centres  of  the 
feathers  a  deep  bluish  black  with  a  purplish 
gloss,  the  edges  and  tips  of  the  the  feathers  blu- 
ish ash.  Greater,  middle  and  lesser  wing  cov- 
erts and  scapulars  white-edged.  Primaries  and 
tail  feathers  dusky.  Below,  the  throat  and 
breast  bluish  ash,  this  color  extending  along 
the  sides,  paler  and  whitening  on  the  edges  of 
the  feathers.  Remaining  lower  parts  mainly 
white.  Legs  and  feet  flesh-colored;  bill  about 
one  and  one-quarter  inches  long,  slightly  down- 
curved,  dusky  green  with  flesh-colored  base. 
The  length  of  this  bird  is  about  nine  inches ;  ex- 
tent from  fifteen  to  sixteen  inches. 

This  species  rarely  goes  much  south  of  New 
England,  perhaps  to  the  Middle  States,  and 
though  chiefly  found  on  the  seacoast  is  an  oc- 
casional visitor  to  the  Great  Lakes. 


166  FEATHERED  GAME 


THE  RED-BACKED   SANDPIPER. 

BLACK-BELLIED   SANDPIPER. 

AMERICAN  DUNLIN. 

(Pelidna  alpina  sakhalina.) 

Very  generally  scattered  over  North  Amer- 
ica, but  mainly  dwelling  on  the  coasts.  Breeds 
in  the  far  north.  They  are  more  common  in  the 
United  States  during  the  seasons  of  migration 
than  at  any  other  time,  being  then  fairly  abun- 
dant all  along  the  coast  line.  Their  journey- 
ings  are  performed  in  large  flocks  and  in  their 
travels  of  the  winter  months  they  even  visit 
South  America.  The  family  has  its  representa- 
tives in  the  Old  World,  so  closely  resembling 
our  own  species  that  only  an  expert  (and  he  not 
always)  could  distinguish  between  them. 

In  the  breeding  dress,  the  upper  parts  are  a 
deep  reddish  brown,  with  the  central  parts  of 
the  feathers  dusky  or  black.  Rump  and  tail 
coverts  nearly  black;  tail  feathers,  wing  quills, 
(outer  webs  of  these  still  darker)  and  coverts 
dusky  gray,  the  greater  coverts  often  tipped 
with  white.     Secondaries  mostly  white.     Below, 


THE  RED-BACKED  SANDPIPER   167 

white;  throat  and  upper  breast  thickly  speckled 
with  dusky,  and  an  abdominal  area  of  black, 
varying  much  in  size.  Bill  and  feet  black,  the 
bill  somewhat  down-curved  at  the  tip.  Have 
seen  birds  shot  in  September  wearing  nearly 
such  a  plumage  as  this.  In  the  winter  coat 
much  of  the  red  has  disappeared  and  the  black 
of  the  belly  is  also  lacking.  A  plain,  slatey- 
gray  above  and  pure  white  below,  but  there  is 
scarcely  any  bird  with  which  to  confound  him. 
Length  eight  or  nine  inches;  sail  spread  about 
fifteen  inches.  The  American  variety  may 
average  rather  larger  than  his  Old  World 
brother.  The  Dunlins  are  very  generally  known 
by  the  bay  gunners  as  "Fall  Snipes,"  and  are 
reasonably  abundant  during  August  and  Sep- 
tember, growing  more  numerous  as  the  autumn 
advances  to  reach  their  greatest  numbers  near 
the  end  of  the  shooting  season.  Rather  late 
visitors  and  among  the  last  to  go  south  in  the 
fall. 

In  New  England  these  birds  are  rarely  seen 
away  from  the  salt  marshes  of  the  coast  and 
unless  in  large  flocks  of  their  own  kind  they  are 
apt  to  be  found  in  company  with  the  "grass- 


168  FEATHERED  GAME 

birds"  or  the  dowitchers.  They  are  very  wel- 
come in  the  game-bag  of  the  marsh  gunners 
for,  although  they  are  not  large,  they  are  always 
fat,  of  good  flavor  and  fine  table  birds. 


THE     SANDERLING.     "  BEACH     BIRD." 

(Calidris  arenaria.) 

The  Sanderling  is  an  inhabitant  of  almost 
every  country  and  clime,  passing  the  nesting 
season  within  the  Arctic  Circle  and  migrating 
to  and  beyond  the  tropics  in  the  winter. 
Though  sometimes  found  on  the  shores  of  the 
larger  inland  lakes,  with  us  the  bird  is  almost 
entirely  maritime.  They  are  quite  common 
here  in  New  England,  a  visitor  to  our  sandy 
beaches  in  August  usually  finding  plenty  of 
these  birds,  either  in  small  flocks  of  their  own 
kind  or  united  with  the  smaller  "sandpeeps" 
or  the  "ringnecks."  Their  favorite  feeding 
places  are  at  the  edges  of  incoming  waves,  just 
keeping  out  of  their  reach  as  they  advance  and 
charging  back  as  the  water  goes  down. 

Generally  the  Sanderling  is  unsuspicious  and 
will  allow  close  approach  unless  in  a  locality 
where  much  disturbed.     It  is  large  enough  to  be 


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THE  SANDERLING  169 

worth  the  ammunition  necessary  to  its  capture 
and  is  a  very  fair  bird  for  the  table — that  is, 
enough  of  them  are.  It  comes  readily  to  call, 
whether  of  "peep,"  "ringneck,"  or  other  of 
its  acquaintances,  for  it  is  very  sociable  in  its 
nature,  and  the  gunner  who  is  seeking  the  in- 
gredients for  a  shorebird  pie  can  not  do  better 
than  use  these  birds  for  material. 

He  is  a  plump  and  "chunky"  little  fellow,  his 
build  and  figure  reminding  us  of  the  "beetle- 
head."  The  fall  adult  and  the  young  of  the 
year  are  not  so  brilliantly  colored  as  are  the 
spring  birds.  For  the  most  part  the  fall  coat 
is  made  up  of  modest  and  sober  colors — gray, 
black  and  white.  The  breeding  dress  is 
brighter,  the  upper  parts  mottled  with  ashy, 
black,  and  light  reddish  brown,  with  these  col- 
ors also  on  the  sides  of  the  neck  and  throat, 
the  black  in  broad  areas  through  the  centres 
of  the  feathers,  the  light  colors  on  the  edges 
and  tips.  A  white  area  at  the  base  of  ^ach  of 
the  inner  primaries,  together  with  the  greater 
part  of  the  secondaries,  also  white,  make  a  con- 
spicuous mark  of  this  color  when  the  wing  is 
spread.  Rump  and  upper  tail  coverts  dusky 
with  fine  edgings  of  white.     Bill  and  feet  black. 


170  FEATHERED  GAME 

The  Sanderling's  foot  looks  like  a  smaller  model 
of  the  beetlehead's  with  its  three  short,  stout 
toes;  it  has  no  hind  toe — the  only  one  of  our 
sandpipers  thus  constructed. 

This  bird  is  a  dweller  on  the  sea-beaches, 
niainly  those  of  the  outer  shores.  Very  rarely 
is  it  that  they  come  into  the  long  stretches  of 
" flats"  or  tide-water  marshes  so  dear  to  the 
other  members  of  their  family. 

The  length  of  this  species  is  about  eight  in- 
ches; extent  from  sixteen  to  sixteen  and  one- 
half  inches. 

THE  ROBIN  SNIPE,  GRAY  BACK,  OR 
"KNOT." 

RED-BREASTED  SANDPIPER. 

(Tringa  canutus.) 

World  wide  in  its  range,  this  bird  is  known  in 
both  hemispheres;  in  America  mostly  on  the 
eastern  coast,  though  occasional  stragglers  are 
found  on  the  beaches  of  the  Great  Lakes.  This 
is  a  beautiful  bird,  the  largest  of  the  sandpip- 
ers. 

Not  very  wary  and  coming  quite  readily  when 
"whistled,"  they  suffer  considerably  from  the 


THE  ROBIN  SNIPE  171 

gunner  when  flighting.  They  are  very  fair 
birds  for  the  table  and  are  well  esteemed  by  the 
shore  gunner.  Like  the  greater  number  of  the 
shore  birds  they  make  their  summer  homes  in 
the  far  north  and  there  rear  up  their  families. 
In  their  winter  travels  they  go  well  down  the 
coast  of  South  America. 

In  their  breeding  dress  the  upper  parts  are 
dusky  brown,  the  feathers  with  lighter  tips  and 
edges ;  scapulars  yellowish  on  the  edges.  Rump 
dark  grey  with  more  or  less  distinct  dusky  bar- 
rings. Upper  tail  coverts  white  with  wavy  bars 
of  dusky.  Tail  grayish,  outer  feathers  whitish. 
Below,  brownish  red,  fading  on  flanks  and  tail 
coverts  to  gray  or  white.  Line  of  same  reddish 
hue  over  each  eye.  Bill  quite  stout  and  rather 
longer  than  is  the  rule  in  this  family,  dusky 
green  in  color,  as  are  also  the  feet  and  legs. 

The  autumn  plumage  of  the  young  bird  is  a 
beautiful  bit  of  feather  work  although  made  up 
of  no  bright  colors.  Above,  everywhere  except 
on  rump  and  tail  coverts,  a  delicate  ashy  grey, 
each  feather  margined  about  by  a  fine  edging  of 
white  with  a  narrow  subterminal  line  of  black 
within  this  last,  giving  to  the  plumage  a  pe- 
culiarly rich  and  elegant  effect.     Even  the  black 


172  FEATHERED  GAME 

primaries  are  white-margined.  Below  every- 
where white,  on  the  throat  and  neck  faintly  and 
irregularly  streaked,  and  on  the  flanks  marked 
with  wavy  bars,  of  black. 


THE  GREAT  MARBLED  GODWIT. 

(Limosa  fedoa.) 

With  the  exception  of  the  "  sickle-billed  cur- 
lew" this  is  the  largest  of  our  shore-birds. 
This  species  is  mainly  found  in  the  interior 
through  the  central  portions  of  the  continent 
where  usually  its  migratory  flights  are  made, 
and,  except  well  to  the  southward,  it  is  not  com- 
mon along  the  Atlantic  coast ;  especially  rare  on 
New  England's  shores. 

The  bird  looks  like  an  overgrown  "  brown- 
back"  with  his  red  color  and  long,  snipe-like  bill. 
The  wings  are  ample,  extending  well  beyond  the 
short,  square-cut  tail.  He  is  a  big  fellow,  meas- 
uring from  seventeen  to  twenty  inches  in  length, 
and  having  a  spread  of  wings  varying  from 
thirty-three  to  thirty-seven  inches.  His  general 
color  is  a  light  brownish  red,  everywhere  on  the 
back  this  shade  showing  on  the  edges  and  tips 
of  the  feathers,  the  central  field  of  each  being 


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THE  GREAT  MARBLED  GODWIT  173 

jet  black.  The  breast  and  along  the  sides  are 
marked  to  a  greater  or  less  extent  with  dusky 
lines  across  the  feathers.  The  linings  of  the 
wings  are  marked  with  the  same  red  color  of  the 
upper  parts,  usually  brighter  here  and  on  the 
breast.  Wing  quills  dark  brown,  growing 
dusky  at  the  tips.  No  white  anywhere  on  the 
bird  except  on  the  shafts  of  the  primaries.  Bill 
flesh-colored,  growing  dusky  toward  the  tip. 
Legs  blackish,  the  toes  stout  and  flattened  un- 
derneath, margined  about  by  a  considerable 
membrane.     Sexes  marked  alike. 

Nests  like  the  "upland,"  anywhere  in  open 
fields,  or  in  the  marshes  in  the  more  usual 
shorebird  manner.  Eggs  three  to  four,  grayish 
green,  faintly  splashed  with  brownish  spots. 

It  is  a  great  pity  that  we  do  not  see  more  of 
the  Godwits  in  our  territory  for  as  a  game  bird 
and  a  delicacy  for  the  table  they  rank  well. 
Their  flesh  is  equal  to  that  of  any  of  the  smaller 
shorebirds  and  superior  to  that  of  most  of  them. 


174  FEATHERED  GAME 


HUDSONIAN  GODWIT. 

(Limosa  haemastica.) 

The  whole  of  North,  Central  and  South  Amer- 
ica is  the  habitat  of  this  species.  In  North 
America  most  common  on  the  eastern  half,  and 
while  nowhere  abundant,  this  is  the  godwit  most 
often  taken  in  New  England.  It  is  very  rare 
on  the  Pacific  coast,  or,  in  fact  anywhere  west 
of  the  Rockies.  It  is  considerably  different 
from  the  species  last  described,  and  of  smaller 
size.  The  black  rump  and  white  tail  coverts 
will  show  the  distinction  at  once,  to  say  nothing 
of  the  barrings  in  black  and  white  on  the  under 
parts;  also  the  linings  of  the  wings  are  black- 
ish. These  are  the  most  striking  differences; 
for  the  rest,  above,  blackish,  with  a  greenish 
gloss,  the  edges  of  the  feathers  scalloped  with 
red-brown,  tawny  yellow  and  grayish.  Primar- 
ies dusky  with  white  shafts,  darkening  at  the 
tips.  Coverts  dusky,  tipped  with  white.  Rump 
black.  Upper  tail  coverts  white.  Tail  feath- 
ers black,  white  at  base  and  white-tipped.  Be- 
low, reddish  chestnut,  crossed  with  irregular 
black  bars;  lower  breast,  flanks  and  under  tail 
coverts  more  heavily  barred  and  having  con- 


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HUDSONIAN  GODWIT  175 

siderable  white.  Bill  dull  orange,  blackening 
at  the  tip.  Legs  black.  Length  from  fourteen 
to  sixteen;  extent  from  twenty-two  to  twenty- 
five  inches. 

In  winter  the  colors  of  its  plumage  are 
much  lighter.  The  upper  parts  a  grayish 
brown  with  very  little  of  the  showy  colors  of 
the  breeding  dress.  To  the  casual  observer  it 
closely  resembles  the  willet,  showing  the  same 
sober  hues  as  does  Symphemia  at  this  season, 
though  white  patch  on  primaries  and  bluish  legs 
of  willet  to  say  nothing  of  the  differences  of  the 
tails,  should  distinguish  between  the  two  at 
once. 

This  species  is  said  to  decoy  readily  and  to 
be  easily  lured  by  a  good  imitation  of  its  note, 
though  wary  and  cautious  beyond  most  shore- 
birds  if  it  suspects  danger.  In  more  favored 
localities  they  are  said  to  travel  in  large  flocks, 
but  in  New  England  the  rule  is  some  half-a- 
dozen  in  a  bunch,  or  more  commonly  a  single 
lone  traveler  on  his  way  to  the  southland. 
Very  rarely  are  they  taken  in  our  borders  dur- 
ing the  spring  migration. 

Nests  mostly  in  the  far  north,  along  the  Arc- 
tic shores.  Eggs,  three  to  four,  brownish  olive, 
splashed  with  darker  spots. 


176  FEATHERED  GAME 


THE  WILLET. 

(Symphemia  semipalmata.) 

This  bird  seems  to  be  closely  related  to  the 
"yellow-legs"  and  is  somewhat  like  it  in  its 
coloration,  but  is  considerably  heavier  in  figure 
and  of  greater  size,  having  also  a  stouter  and 
heavier  bill.  The  Willet  does  not  go  so  far 
north  as  does  his  cousin  of  the  yellow  stockings 
and  throughout  North  America  is  more  south- 
ern in  his  range,  few  of  these  birds  breeding 
much  beyond  the  northern  boundaries  of  the 
United  States.  They  pass  the  winter  months 
in  South  America  and  along  the  shores  of  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico. 

The  Willet  is  colored  thus :  above,  ashy  gray, 
mottled  with  black.  Rump  dusky;  tail  coverts 
mainly  white.  Tail  grayish  white,  faintly 
black-barred,  with  the  outer  feathers  nearly 
white.  Below,  white  with  blackish  arrowheads 
as  in  the  "yellowshanks."  Axillars,  edges  and 
linings  of  the  wings  blackish.  Primaries  nearly 
black  with  the  white  bases  of  the  feathers  half 
hidden  by  the  coverts.  Some  of  the  secondaries 
also  white,  thus  making  a   considerable   area 


_1 


THE  WINTER  YELLOW-LEGS      177 

of  this  color  in  the  wing.  Bill  dusky:  Legs 
dull  bluish;  feet  half- webbed,  so  that  if  the 
occasion  calls  for  it  they  can  swim,  though  sel- 
dom is  this  attempted  unless  hard  pushed.  In 
length  from  fourteen  to  sixteen  inches;  extent 
from  twenty-four  to  twenty-six. 

This  bird  is  very  noisy  and  has  a  piercing, 
far-reaching  note  from  which  the  name  of  the 
species  has  been  taken.  It  is  not  easy  of  ap- 
proach, but  is  wary  and  restless  in  the  extreme. 

Its  food  is  procured  along  the  muddy  edges 
in  the  same  manner  and  of  the  same  sort  as 
makes  the  menu  of  the  "yellow-legs."  The 
nesting  habits  also  are  nearly  identical  with 
those  of  Totanus.  The  eggs  vary  in  number 
from  three  to  four,  dull  greenish  in  color, 
brown-spotted. 

THE  WINTER  YELLOW-LEGS. 

(Totanus  melanoleucus.) 

The  "Tell-tale,"  "Tattler,"  or  "Winter  Yel- 
low-leg Plover,"  as  the  various  names  are 
given  him  in  different  localities  where  he  is 
known,  is  a  common  visitor  in  our  New  England 
marshes,  both  on  the  seacoast  and  on  the  boggy 


178  FEATHERED  GAME 

edges  of  our  inland  lakes  and  rivers.  He  is  a 
shy,  watchful  and  wary  fellow,  usually  difficult 
of  approach,  and  gets  his  name,  the  " Tattler," 
because  he  invariably  arouses  all  the  game 
within  hearing  of  his  piercing  whistle  as  he 
takes  wing  at  the  sight  of  the  skulking  gunner. 
After  Mr.  Yellow-legs'  kindly  warning  every 
bird  in  the  marsh  is  on  the  alert  and  watchful 
if  it  does  not  go  out  with  its  long-legged  friend. 
If  the  "Winter"  is  with  them,  silent  and  con- 
tent, the  game  birds  in  his  vicinity  feed  on  and 
enjoy  themselves  with  a  sense  of  perfect  se- 
curity, but  let  his  monitory  note  be  heard  and 
the  chances  are  that  every  duck,  snipe  or  plover 
within  hearing  will  be  up  and  away  with  their 
watchful  picket.  How  many  good  shots  at  un- 
suspecting ducks  has  this  bird  spoiled  with  his 
alarming  whistle!  And  how  much  vain  pro- 
fanity has  been  bestowed  upon  his  unmindful 
head ! 

He  is  a  tall  and  graceful  bird,  elegantly  pro- 
portioned, with  a  long  neck  and  bill,  and  a  leg  of 
marvelous  length  and  slenderness.  A  speedy 
and  easy  runner,  a  graceful  walker,  and  on  the 
wing  one  of  the  bravest  birds  that  ever  glad- 
dened the  sportsman's  eyes.     Being  partially 


THE  WINTER  YELLOW-LEGS      179 

webbed  on  bis  middle  and  outer  toes  be  is  a  fair 
swimmer  at  need. 

Lonely  sea-beach,  rockweed-covered  ledge,  or 
wind-swept  expanse  of  waving  grass  witb  its 
brigbt  strips  of  water  reflecting  tbe  blue  above 
— tbese  are  tbe  baunts  of  tbe  many  birds  num- 
bered among  tbe  "bay  snipe,"  and  tbougb  tbe 
woodcock  enthusiast  and  grouse  hunter  is  in- 
clined to  belittle  tbis  style  of  shooting  it  is  not 
every  bungler  who  can  "make  a  double"  on 
these  swift  coursers  of  the  marsh,  and  it  is  very 
pleasant  in  the  bright  August  days  for  the 
sportsman  to  sit  in  his  innocent  looking  blind 
at  tbe  edge  of  a  promising  pool  or  to  wander 
from  one  feeding  ground  to  another — from 
muddy  creek  to  brown-margined  "pond-bole," 
with  his  gun  ever  ready  for  the  chance  which 
fortune  may  send  him.  A  clear,  bright  day,  the 
sun  glinting  in  diamond  points  on  the  blue 
waves  and  glistening  on  the  sails  far  out  at  sea ; 
the  dazzling  white  of  the  sandbanks  and  the 
bar  which  marks  the  river's  mouth  showing 
through  the  breaks  in  the  tall  grass;  and  the 
mellow  pipings  of  the  birds  as  the  flocks  sweep 
past  in  full  career ;  all  go  to  make  a  day's  outing 
fit  to  offset  a  year  of  care  and  worriment.     How 


180  FEATHERED  GAME 

many  such  there  are  in  our  memory !  Away  on 
the  wings  of  the  breeze  goes  the  thought  of  the 
note  which  falls  due  next  week — gone  from 
mind  for  the  first  time  since  'twas  given — and 
crowding  in  its  wake  go  a  thousand  petty  vexa- 
tions of  business.  Unfortunate  that  mortal  who 
cannot  count  some  of  these  happy  days  among 
his  experiences.  It  is  a  lasting  gain — this  day — 
for  the  pleasure  of  a  shooting  trip  is  not  all  in 
the  moment  of  action ;  full  often  by  our  winter's 
blaze  we  live  again  our  happy  days  afield,  afloat ; 
recall  deep  craft  or  sylvan  lore  displayed ;  some 
shorebird  music  deftly  played ;  headwork  by  dog 
or  shooting  skill  undue  recalls  the  day  and  so 
its  joys  renew. 

In  the  earlier  part  of  the  season  the  different 
bay  birds,  the  beetleheads,  the  goldens,  yellow- 
legs,  turnstones  or  curlews  are  found  each  in 
its  chosen  grounds.  In  the  marsh  is  where 
your  luck  may  bring  you  a  goodly  bag  of  Yel- 
low-legs; in  these  luxuriant  tangles  of  rank- 
growing  grass  lurk  the  rails,  whose  celerity  and 
swiftness  of  foot  more  than  atone  for  any  ap- 
parent weakness  of  wing.  Here  in  the  colder 
weather  when  the  frosts  have  dulled  the  bright 
greens  of  the  grass,  changing  them  to  the  yel- 


THE  WINTER  YELLOW-LEGS     181 

lows  and  reddish  browns  which  betoken  that  our 
summer  is  gone — here  it  is  that  the  crafty  snipe 
will  dart  and  twist  with  erratic  and  confusing 
flight  to  dodge  the  charge  with  which  you  fain 
would  cut  him  down.  At  this  season,  too,  it 
may  chance  that  in  some  of  these  reed-edged 
pools  the  black  duck  is  leading  its  family,  now 
full-fledged,  keen  eyed  and  already  abnormally 
sharp  in  the  world's  harsh  methods.  But  now 
'tis  late  summer,  and  through  the  sultry  air 
from  a  distance  comes  the  "Winter's"  cry,  far 
away  and  faint,  the  bird  itself  out  of  sight.  In 
answer  to  the  gunner's  mimicry  comes  back 
again  the  note  from  another  quarter.  His  cir- 
cling flight  has  taken  him  a  mile  away,  but  still, 
mellow  and  musical,  his  far-reaching  whistle, 
softened  by  the  distance,  is  heard  in  answer  to 
each  luring  call,  and  away  in  the  sky  the  gun- 
ner sees  him — a  mere  speck  against  the  clouds. 
If  the  imitation  is  good  and  the  bird  is  in  social 
mood  he  comes  nearer,  calling  again  and  again, 
quartering  the  marsh  with  his  watchful  eye 
alert  for  friend  or  foe.  Now  the  sportsman  lies 
close,  well  hidden  by  the  stack  of  marsh  grass — 
a  perfect  match  for  his  hunting  coat  of  dingy, 
yellowish  brown, — or  crouches  in  the  waving 


182  FEATHERED  GAME 

reeds  with  his  decoys  placed  about  the  edges  of 
some  convenient  " pond-hole."  Soon  Mr.  Yel- 
low-legs is  seen  wheeling  about  just  out  of  gun- 
shot, his  long  legs  stretched  out  straight  behind 
him  and  his  head  turning  from  side  to  side  in 
search  of  his  answering  friend.  He  sights  the 
decoys,  and  now  his  call  is  one  short,  sharp, 
questioning  note.  The  deceiver  answers  just 
as  he  asks,  and  the  bird  sweeps  down  with  set 
wings,  then  skimming  along  ten  feet  above  the 
grass,  discovers  the  cheat  and  starts,  too  late, 
away.  A  sudden  flash  from  the  screening 
reeds,  and  all  in  a  heap,  as  neck,  wings  and  legs 
roll  into  one  shapeless  lump,  the  bird  comes  to 
earth;  a  convulsive  kick,  a  tremulous  flutter  of 
feeble  wings,  a  gasp,  and  he  lies  still  upon  the 
grass, — "another  victim  of  misplaced  confi- 
dence. ' '  Look  at  him !  One  of  the  finest  shore- 
birds  which  we  have  on  our  coasts,  either  to 
shoot  or  for  the  table.  Perhaps  the  next  will  be 
a  flock  of  half  a  dozen,  when  the  gunner  may 
make  his  "double"  with  much  satisfaction  to 
his  vanity.  Marsh  gunning  is  fair  and  legiti- 
mate sport  only  when  the  gunner  will  do  his 
shooting  at  birds  on  the  wing.  It  certainly  de- 
generates into  "pot-shooting,"  or  worse,  when, 


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THE  WINTER  YELLOW-LEGS     183 

as  too  often  happens,  the  birds  are  allowed  to 
settle  in  among  the  decoys  and  feed  while  the 
"sportsman"  waits  until  a  number  are  bunched 
along  the  muddy  shore  of  the  pool  where  a  rak- 
ing shot  with  the  first  barrel  shall  make  sure  of 
a  bagful  to  display  to  admirers  at  home.  The 
average  marsh  bird  is  confiding  and  trustful  in 
disposition  and  so  readily  induced  to  give  the 
shooter  a  chance  that  there  is  really  no  excuse 
for  such  a  custom  as  this.  Let  one  of  the  whole 
long-legged  race  come  within  hearing  of  a 
plover  call  and  the  rest  of  the  story  lies  alto- 
gether with  the  gun  artist.  Of  course  now  and 
then  there  is  a  shore  bird  shooter  with  loftier 
ambitions.  Such  a  one  may  graduate  into  the 
higher  schools  of  upland  gunnery,  and  for  him 
these  furnish  good  practice  for  the  making  of  a 
wing  shot. 

The  "Winter  Yellow-leg,"  so  called  in  dis- 
tinction from  the  smaller  "Summer,"  is  not  a 
true  plover,  nor  is  the  latter,  both  belonging  to 
the  Tattler  family,  a  group  more  nearly  related 
to  the  snipes.  The  kinship  is  plainly  indicated 
by  the  bill,  long,  and  somewhat  sensitive  at  the 
tip,  as  in  Wilson's  snipe,  but  in  the  northeast 
hardly  one  gunner  in  a  hundred  ever  thinks  of 


184  FEATHERED  GAME 

these  birds  as  anything  but  plovers,  or  would 
know  what  bird  was  meant  if  called  anything 
but  a  "Winter,"  or  a  "Summer,  Yellow-leg 
Plover, ' '  so  general  is  the  use  of  these  names  in 
New  England. 

The  "Winters"  seldom  gather  into  large 
flocks  of  their  own  kind  save  in  the  spring  mi- 
grations, generally  preferring  to  associate  with 
other  species,  as  the  "Summers,"  smaller  sand- 
pipers, grass-birds,  etc.  They  are  found  most- 
ly on  the  soft,  oozy  edges  of  the  "pondholes"  in 
the  marshes,  along  the  muddy  "flats"  of  the 
tide-waters  and  in  the  bog  holes  of  the  fresh 
water  swamps.  In  the  far  north,  on  the  bank 
of  inland  pond  or  marsh,  they  build  their  nests 
and  raise  their  broods  of  four  or  five  long- 
legged,  odd-looking  youngsters  which  run  about 
almost  from  birth,  following  their  parents  in  a 
scramble  for  daily  rations,  escaping  danger  by 
squatting  down  in  the  long  grass  and  keeping 
perfectly  quiet  until  the  coast  is  clear. 

The  ' '  Winter ' '  arrives  in  New  England  about 
the  middle  of  April  and  breeds  from  this  lati- 
tude northward,  most  of  them  going  further  on. 
The  nest,  though  sometimes  built  on  an  old 
stump,  is  oftener  a  slight  hollow  scooped  out  of 


THE  WINTER  YELLOW-LEGS      185 

the  ground  in  the  drier  parts  of  the  marsh  and 
lined  with  dead  grass  and  moss,  and  the  male 
bird,  though  he  is  said  to  take  no  part  in  the 
incubation,  stays  near  at  hand  and  aids  in  the 
care  of  the  young.  About  the  middle  of  Au- 
gust they  begin  to  leave  their  breeding  places 
and  scatter  over  the  surrounding  country,  lin- 
gering in  New  England  into  November. 

The  coloring  and  habits  of  the  two  species  are 
nearly  identical.  The  principal  difference  is 
that  of  size,  the  "Winter"  averaging  from 
twelve  to  fourteen  inches  long,  with  an  extent 
of  about  twenty-four  inches.  The  "Summer" 
is  ten  or  eleven  inches  in  length,  with  a  wing- 
spread  averaging  twenty-two  inches.  The  bill 
of  the  larger  species  is  somewhat  up-curved,  as 
if  slightly  bent  in  the  middle,  while  that  of  the 
"Summer"  is  proportionately  shorter  and 
straight.  The  legs  of  the  "Summer"  are  a  lit- 
tle longer  in  comparison  with  the  size  of  the 
bird.  The  weight  of  the  larger  species  will  run 
from  eight  to  nine  and  one-half  or  even  ten 
ounces;  the  smaller  species  seldom  weighs  over 
seven  ounces,  and  usually  less. 

The  description  of  one  bird's  markings  will 
answer  almost  equally  well  for  the  other,  and 


186  FEATHERED  GAME 

is  as  follows :  above,  grayish  black,  the  body  of 
the  feathers  dark,  with  spots  and  streaks  of 
white  along  their  margins;  head  and  neck 
streaked  with  black  lines  on  a  grayish  ground. 
Small  superciliary  stripe  of  white.  Throat 
white.  Under  parts  white,  streaked  with  dusky 
spots  and  lines  on  lower  throat,  neck  and  breast. 
Sides  and  flanks  barred  and  having  also  numer- 
ous arrowheads  in  black.  Under  tail  coverts 
also  black-barred.  Tail  marked  with  black  and 
white  in  regular  bars,  the  central  feathers 
darker  and  so  less  distinctly  barred.  Rump 
and  upper  tail  coverts  white ;  legs  bright  yellow 
and  very  long.     Bill  black. 


THE  "SUMMER  YELLOW-LEGS." 

(Totanus  flavipes.) 

The  "Summer"  is  a  later  arrival  in  the 
spring  and  leaves  earlier  for  the  south  than 
does  the  "Winter,"  flavipes  not  going  so  far 
north  and  leaving  for  warm  climates  during  Au- 
gust and  September.  These,  too,  are  more  apt 
to  gather  into  large  flocks,  while  their  bigger 
relatives  seldom  "bunch  up"  with  more  than 
five  or  six  in  a  flock,  except,  as  before  stated, 


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THE  SUMMER  YELLOW-LEGS     187 

during  the  spring  migrations.  This  species  is 
more  numerous  along  the  Atlantic  coast  than 
is  the  preceding,  and  the  early  fall  finds  many 
"Summer  Yellow-legs"  on  the  muddy  flats  of 
the  tide-waters.  Fine  sport  may  be  had,  both 
here  and  in  the  marshes,  for,  like  the  larger 
species,  these  birds  come  readily  to  decoys  or 
to  a  good  imitation  of  their  whistle.  If  there  is 
any  difference  in  the  willingness  of  these  two 
birds  to  come  to  decoys  I  think  that  the  l '  Sum- 
mer" is  the  more  neighborly.  I  believe  this 
species  is  much  less  wary  as  well  as  weaker  in 
flight  powers  and  of  less  shot-carrying  ability. 
I  must  confess  that  I  prefer  shooting  "Yellow- 
legs  ' '  of  either  tribe  over  ' '  stools ' '  to  any  other 
kind  of  shore-bird  gunning,  always,  and  of 
course,  excepting  the  sport  of  knocking  down 
Wilson's  snipe  when  there  are  enough  of  them 
to  practice  on. 

In  August,  supposing  the  mosquitoes  do  not 
eat  him  alive,  the  marsh  gunner  is  likely  to  get 
more  of  the  smaller  ' '  Yellow-legs. ' '  In  Septem- 
ber the  ' '  Winters ' '  will  outnumber  them  two  to 
one.  Both  rank  well  as  table  birds  and  are  al- 
ways in  good  condition. 

For  plumage  and  markings  the  description  of 


188  FEATHERED  GAME 

the  "Winter  Yellow-legs"  will  answer  equally 
well  for  this  bird. 

Beyond  the  Rockies  this  species  does  not 
seem  to  be  so  numerous  as  the  larger  Yellow- 
legs,  though  it  is  said  to  be  fairly  common  in 
Alaska.  In  their  migrations  both  travel  down 
to  the  southernmost  point  of  the  American  con- 
tinent, so  that  their  range,  from  Cape  Horn  to 
Greenland  and  Alaska,  makes  a  large  extent  of 
territory. 


THE  SOLITARY  SANDPIPER. 

(Helodromas  solitarius.) 

With  most  gunners  the  "Solitary"  is  an  old 
acquaintance,  well  known  to  all  who  hunt  in  the 
marshes.  Usually  he  is  found  where  the  brooks 
and  small  streams  come  out  from  the  sheltering 
cover  of  the  woods  and  less  often  in  the  open 
stretches  of  waving  grass  or  stubble  and  pond- 
hole  which  delight  the  hearts  of  the  other  mem- 
bers of  his  family.  A  quiet  woodland  nook,  a 
gently  flowing  stream  with  moss-grown  rocks 
and  turfy  banks  suits  well  this  bird's  taste. 
Caring  little  for  society,  silent  and  shy  in  dis- 
position, hermit-like,  he  prefers  the  retirement 


THE  SOLITARY  SANDPIPER       189 

and  peace  of  the  meadow  brook  to  the  changing 
scenes  of  the  wider  world  of  his  big  cousins, 
the  "winter"  and  "summer  yellow-legs." 
Around  some  lonely  pool  in  pasture  land  or 
meadow  he  gleans  his  fare  of  insects  and  larvae 
scarcely  ever  breaking  the  quiet  of  his  haunt 
with  a  whistle,  for  he  is  the  silent  member  of  the 
family,  more  taciturn  than  any  of  the  tribe,  and 
content  with  the  company  of  his  own  thoughts. 
This  bird  is  not  confined  to  the  marshes  of  the 
coast ;  he  is  fully  as  likely  to  be  found  in  the  in- 
terior, and  is  a  common  visitor  in  almost  any 
suitable  spot  on  the  North  American  continent. 
If  you  come  suddenly  into  a  narrow  run-way,  its 
high  protecting  banks  shutting  out  the  rest  of 
the  world  with  a  thick  wall  of  brush  and  trees, 
and  overgrown  with  long  grass,  with  still  and 
shallow  waters,  stagnant  and  slow, — the  chosen 
haunt  of  bittern  and  heron, — on  muddy  edge  or 
slimy  stone  standing  sentinel  over  all  is  the 
"Solitary."  Sometimes  his  mate  is  near  by  or 
perhaps  his  nearly  grown  family  has  not  yet 
left  the  parental  care,  and  all  make  off  in  haste 
the  instant  you  have  fairly  shown  yourself. 
You  note  that  his  flight  is  much  like  that  of  the 
spotted  sandpiper,  his  wings  down-curved  in  the 


190  FEATHERED  GAME 

same  fashion.  Onr  hero  is  more  dignified  in 
his  manner,  as  befits  his  larger  size.  The 
homes  and  life  habits  of  the  two  are  probably 
very  similar. 

When  you  flush  him  he  goes  skimming  away 
just  above  the  water ;  alighting  on  a  rock  at  the 
edge,  he  stretches  his  wings  aloft  to  their  full- 
est extent,  then  carefully  folds  them  so  that 
each  feather  is  in  its  proper  place,  and  begins 
feeding  again,  gathering  the  insects,  slugs  and 
water  bugs  with  the  healthy  appetite  common 
to  all  citizens  of  the  great  out-of-doors. 

He  is  a  beautiful  bird,  though  modestly  ap- 
pareled; something  smaller  than  either  "win- 
ter" or  "summer  yellow-legs,"  but  built  on  the 
same  graceful  lines  and  plainly  showing  all  the 
characteristics  of  his  family — long  in  the  legs, 
strong  of  wing,  and  equally  good  at  the  table  as 
are  the  other  two.  I  think  he  makes  a  good  im- 
pression when,  after  being  skinned,  wrapped  in 
a  thin  piece  of  fat  pork  and  enclosed  in  a  big  po- 
tato he  has  been  well  baked. 

Sometimes  in  the  sea  marshes  when  the  tide 
is  rising  a  number  of  these  birds  may  be  cap- 
tured by  taking  a  stand  among  the  pond-holes 
near  high  water  mark,  of  course  being  well  hid- 


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THE  SOLITARY  SANDPIPER      191 

den,  and  shooting  them  as  they  come  in  from 
the  flooded  lower  levels.  As  you  arrive  you 
cast  a  glance  along  the  mud  and  ooze,  and  see- 
ing nothing,  turn  away.  Just  then  a  slight 
motion  catches  your  eye  and  what  had  seemed 
a  small  lump  of  mud  suddenly  changes  into  a 
very  lively  little  bird,  bobbing  and  bowing  at 
you  very  politely  and  not  more  than  twenty 
yards  away.  Now  he  extends  his  wings  up- 
ward to  their  full  spread  and  jets  his  tail  as  he 
runs  nimbly  along,  then  one  downward  stroke 
of  his  pinions  and  he  rises  lightly  from  the 
ground  and  skims  away  just  above  the  surface 
of  the  pool.  Perhaps  he  is  a  young  bird  or  has 
been  but  little  disturbed  and  so  knows  not  the 
danger  of  his  situation,  in  which  case  he  may  go 
ten  yards  and  alight  again  to  gaze  with  curi- 
ous eyes.  There  is  scarcely  another  bird  which 
flies  with  so  little  apparent  effort.  His  strokes 
are  slow  and  regular,  a  short  sailing  between 
each  motion,  but  he  moves  very  fast.  Let  him 
be  alarmed  and  he  will  quicken  his  speed  until 
he  seems  only  a  black  streak  in  the  air,  and  as 
he  rises  to  top  the  surrounding  trees  it  needs 
good  and  quick  work  with  the  gun  to  stop  him. 
Start  him  up  suddenly  and  he  dashes  from  the 


192  FEATHERED  GAME 

ground  with  a  sharp,  piercing  cry  and  perhaps 
darts  into  the  brush,  for  if  cornered  in  a  run- 
way margined  with  trees  he  will  not  hesitate  to 
dive  into  their  protecting  cover  where  almost 
any  other  marsh  bird  would  double  back  and 
make  for  the  open  ground  at  any  risk  to  itself, 
and  so  give  the  gunner  a  chance  to  score. 

Of  its  nesting  habits  little  is  known  for  cer- 
tainty and  eggs  are  still  rarely  seen  in  collec- 
tions. It  is  supposed  to  breed  anywhere  in  its 
range,  preferably  throughout  the  northern  por- 
tions, that  is,  from  the  northernmost  States  of 
the  Union  through  the  wooded  country  to 
Alaska.  In  winter  it  goes  far  away  to  the 
south,  and  though  some  remain  in  the  Gulf 
States  most  pass  this  season  in  Mexico  and  Cen- 
tral America.  Not  a  few  go  well  down  into 
South  America. 

This  species  is  about  nine  inches  long,  with 
an  extent  of  wings  averaging  from  sixteen  to 
seventeen  inches.  Upper  parts  a  glossy  green- 
ish brown,  streaked  on  head,  throat  and  neck 
with  dusky;  showing  considerable  white  here 
also,  especially  on  the  sides  of  the  head  and 
throat.  Upper  tail  coverts  and  rump  same 
shade   as  the  back,  but   showing  some  white, 


THE  SPOTTED  SANDPIPER       193 

black-barred,  on  the  lateral  tail  coverts.  Sides, 
axillars  and  linings  of  the  wings  white,  regu- 
larly barred  with  black.  Tail  barred  with  black 
and  white,  the  black  predominant  on  the  cen- 
tral, where  crossbars  are  less  pronounced,  and 
the  white  most  prominent  on  the  outer  feathers. 
Primaries  and  edge  of  wings  blackish;  rest  of 
wing  mainly  like  back.  Bill  nearly  black;  legs 
not  so  long  proportionately  as  in  the  "yellow- 
legs,"  in  color  dusky  green. 


THE  SPOTTED  SANDPIPER. 

(Actitis  macularia.) 

Common  all  over  North  America  wherever 
there  is  water  and  about  as  well  known  a  bird  as 
we  have  on  our  lists  is  the  Spotted  Sandpiper. 
If  in  the  early  spring  one  should  visit  the  rocky 
expanses  of  sea  beach,  some  unfrequented  spot 
on  the  shore  of  our  islands,  or  the  quiet  glades 
where  the  brooks  and  the  tide  waters  meet  and 
mingle  their  currents,  almost  the  first  sound  to 
greet  one's  ears  would  be  the  sharp  and  pierc- 
ing "Peet-Weet!"  of  this  tiny  but  loud-voiced 
little  bird  as  with  his  mate  he  scurries  away. 
With  wings  deeply  down-curved  he  dashes  in 


194  FEATHERED  GAME 

his  darting  flight  to  a  safe  distance,  alighting  on 
some  large  stone,  flirting  his  tail,  balancing  on 
tip-toe  and  bobbing  his  head,  never  for  a  second 
standing  still  or  ceasing  his  endless  dance. 

He  is  a  brilliant  conversationalist,  (a  trait 
common  to  most  of  his  family),  and  is  ready 
and  willing  to  prove  it,  evidently  feeling  that  he 
must  make  amends  for  his  small  size  by  being 
the  noisiest  member  of  his  tribe.  If  suddenly 
driven  to  flight  he  makes  the  air  resound  with 
his  sharp  ' '  Peet-Weet ! "— "  Peet-Weet ! "  and 
when  he  has  alighted  again  he  quavers  out  a 
long,  tremulous  "W-e-e-e-e-t!" 

The  Spotted  Sandpiper  arrives  in  New  Eng- 
land from  his  winter  quarters  in  the  Southern 
States,  Mexico,  or  the  Tropics,  in  May  and  sets 
up  housekeeping  soon  after.  He  seems  more 
accustomed  to  civilization  than  any  other  of 
the  shorebirds  and  fears  less  the  neighborhood 
of  man.  Probably  the  reason  lies  in  the  fact 
that  the  gunner  seldom  troubles  him  because 
of  his  small  size  and  also  because,  since  they  do 
not  gather  into  flocks  as  do  the  other  sandpip- 
ers and  smaller  shorebirds,  he  can  get  but  one 
at  a  shot,  thus  he  thinks  it  a  small  return  for 
his  outlay  of  ammunition.    With  this  freedom 


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THE  SPOTTED  SANDPIPER       195 

from  pursuit  and  the  semi-protection  thus  af- 
forded, they  often  nest  near  the  farmhouse,  in 
the  orchards,  and  near  the  highways  where  no 
other  of  their  kind  would  ever  think  of  making 
its  home.  Their  nests  are  made  in  almost  any 
spot  near  water,  be  it  sea,  lake,  pond  or  moun- 
tain brook,  and  a  very  simple  affair  is  this  hum- 
ble home — a  mere  hollow  on  the  ground  lined 
with  soft  dead  grass.  This  usually  contains 
four  eggs  of  a  dull  clay  color,  splashed  with  ir- 
regular dark  spots.  If  the  bird  is  flushed  from 
the  nest  she  commonly  flies  off  in  silence,  mak- 
ing no  show  of  annoyance,  in  marked  contrast 
to  her  usual  noisy  mood,  and  if  surprised  with 
her  young  family  plays  all  the  tricks  and  wiles 
known  to  other  birds  and  used  in  a  like  situa- 
tion. 

Strolling  one  August  day  on  the  banks  of  a 
creek  much  frequented  by  these  birds  I  came 
upon  a  Spotted  Piper  which  seemed  greatly  dis- 
tressed at  my  presence.  The  cause  was  not  far 
to  seek.  Out  on  a  point  of  mud  at  the  water's 
edge  was  another  piper  of  much  lighter  color 
than  usual  and  I  proceeded  to  make  its  ac- 
quaintance. On  approaching  there  was  no  diffi- 
culty in  discovering  what  it  was — an  unfledged 


196  FEATHERED  GAME 

youngster  with  his  wing  quills  still  in  their  blue 
sheaths  and  never  a  sign  of  feathers.  Pres- 
ently it  scuttled  away  and  hid  in  a  thick  clump 
of  grass.  After  a  short  search  the  frightened 
little  skulker  was  brought  out  from  his  retreat. 
A  little  gray  and  white  mass  of  down — as 
''gawky"  a  bunch  of  infantile  innocence  as  I 
have  ever  seen.  Its  bill,  legs  and  feet  nearly 
as  large  as  the  old  bird's,  the  head  almost  too 
much  for  the  feeble  neck  to  sustain.  Making  as 
yet  no  attempt  at  flight,  it  ran  with  wings  out- 
spread and  carried  just  as  the  old  bird  carried 
hers,  down-curved  and  drooping,  so  long  even 
at  this  age  that  the  little  adventurer  often 
stepped  on  them,  making  him  perform  various 
unexpected  acrobatic  feats. 

During  the  time  I  kept  the  youngster  pris- 
oner the  old  bird  shrieked  and  whistled  and 
tumbled  about,  dragging  first  one  wing  and  then 
the  other  in  her  attempts  to  draw  my  attention 
to  herself,  coming  almost  within  hand  reach  and 
then  darting  into  the  air,  screeching  abuse,  de- 
fiance, appeal, — the  little  fellow  answering  all 
the  time  with  a  feeble,  chicken-like  " peeping." 

"When  at  length  I  let  my  captive  go  free  he 


THE  SPOTTED  SANDPIPER       197 

made  at  once  for  the  stream,  here  all  of  thirty 
yards  wide  and  with  a  swift  current.  In  he 
plunged  and  struggled  gamely  for  the  other 
side,  but  his  feeble  efforts  were  soon  exhausted 
in  the  swirl  and  he  was  swept  into  a  brush  heap 
and  dragged  under.  I  rescued  him  and  held 
him  in  my  hands  until  rested  and  warmed — for 
there  was  a  chill  east  wind  coming  in  from  the 
sea — then  finding  a  sheltered  spot  in  the  sun  I 
left  him  alone.  Here  he  stayed  contentedly  un- 
til, when  I  had  gone  to  a  safe  distance,  the 
mother  bird  came  back  and  after  scolding  him 
well  finally  led  him  away  through  the  grass. 

This  little  chap  was  brownish  gray  above, 
with  a  black  stripe  from  the  base  of  the  bill 
over  the  crown  to  the  nape,  there  meeting  two 
others  which  came  to  this  point  from  the  eyes. 
Another  dark  stripe,  somewhat  larger,  came 
down  through  the  middle  of  the  back  to  the  root 
of  the  tail.  Everywhere  below  grayish  white. 
The  wings  quite  long  and  pointed,  drooping  as 
if  there  were  no  strength  in  them  yet,  and  all 
made  up  of  blue  feather  casings. 

At  this  time  the  "yellow-legs"  of  both  species 
had  begun  their  journeyings,  and  even  while 


198  FEATHERED  GAME 

our  little  drama  had  been  taking  place  a  bunch 
of  eight  "summers"  had  come  in  and  settled  at 
about  thirty  yards  distance  to  look  on. 

The  bird  is  known  by  a  number  of  names, 
most  of  them  derived  from  his  habit  of  "bob- 
bing" and  balancing  up  and  down.  Among 
these  are  "Tip-up,"  "Teeter-Tail,"  "Teeter- 
Bob,"  and  "Peet-Weet,"  this  last  from  his  note 
of  alarm.  The  "Teeter-Bob"  is  a  merry,  rest- 
less little  fellow,  never  for  a  moment  quiet.  He 
is  about  seven  and  one  half  inches  long  and 
thirteen  inches  in  extent  of  wing.  Above,  dull 
olive  brown  with  a  silken  sheen  and  lustre  to 
his  plumage;  fine  lines  of  black  on  head  and 
neck;  wavy  crossbars  of  the  same  color  on  the 
back  and  wing  coverts ;  upper  tail  coverts  and 
central  feathers  of  the  tail  of  the  same  olive 
brown  hue;  tail  feathers  tipped  with  white,  the 
outer  ones  having  several  incomplete  barrings 
of  this  color.  Under  parts  all  white  with  nu- 
merous black  polka  dots  plentifully  sprinkled  in 
on  throat,  breast  and  flanks,  the  spots  growing 
fewer  and  paler  toward  the  lower  parts.  These 
spots  are  missing  in  the  fall  dress.  Wing 
quills  brownish  black;  bill  flesh-colored,  black- 
tipped. 


D 


THE  RUFF  199 

A  wounded  bird  of  this  sort  will  often  strike 
out  to  swim  for  safety,  and  though  making  no 
great  progress  when  depending  only  on  its  little 
feet  for  paddles,  it  can  make  a  great  rate  of 
speed  below  the  surface  where  with  half-spread 
wings  it  flies  beneath  the  water. 

THE  RUFF.     (Male.)     THE  REEVE.     (Fe- 
male.) 

(Pavoncella  pugnax.) 

This  curious  bird  is  a  very  rare  straggler 
from  the  Old  World,  where  it  makes  its  home 
throughout  the  northern  hemisphere.  A  large 
proportion  of  the  specimens  of  this  species 
which  have  been  taken  on  the  North  American 
continent  have  been  found  on  the  coast  of  New 
England.  As  the  name  would  indicate  these 
are  fighters ;  that  is,  they  make  great  pretences 
of  fighting,  but  their  quarrels  seldom  result  in 
any  serious  damage  to  either  combatant.  If 
they  had  a  business  manager  and  a  newspaper 
puffer  in  their  train  we  might  easily  find  their 
human  imitator. 

The  male  in  spring  plumage  is  marked  above 
with  chestnut,  brown  and  black;  rump  blackish, 


200  FEATHERED  GAME 

but  lighter  and  somewhat  reddish  at  the  side. 
Below,  white;  breast,  sides  and  crissum  black 
with  white  spottings.  Tail  brown  with  chestnut 
and  white  barrings.  Quills  dusky,  with  white 
shafts.  Wing  coverts  dusky  gray.  Bill  black, 
yellowish  at  base.  Legs  dull  yellow.  The  face 
bare  of  feathers  and  covered  with  small,  yel- 
low, wart-like  growths.  The  long  neck  feath- 
ers are  almost  never  alike  in  their  coloring 
on  any  two  specimens — in  fact,  there  is  a  wide 
variation  in  the  color  arrangement  all  through. 
The  "ruff"  is  an  adornment  for  the  spring 
love-making,  only  worn  by  the  males,  and  may 
be  of  any  color  or  combination  of  colors  be- 
tween pure  white  and  jet  black.  The  length  of 
this  species  from  twelve  to  thirteen  inches;  ex- 
tent from  twenty-two  to  twenty-three  inches. 

The  female  is  quite  a  little  smaller  and  not 
such  a  striking  bird.  She  lacks  the  "ruff,"  as 
before  stated,  also  the  peculiar  growths  on  the 
face,  and  looks  much  like  the  "grassbird," 
though  considerably  larger. 


THE  UPLAND  PLOVEE  201 

THE  UPLAND  PLOVER. 

GRASS  PLOVER.    PRAIRIE  PIGEON. 

BARTRAM'S  SANDPIPER. 

(Bartramia  longicauda.) 

This  beautiful  bird  dwells  on  our  continent 
in  almost  every  part  east  of  the  Rockies,  is  oc- 
casionally seen  in  Europe,  and  has  been  re- 
ported from  Australia.  It  breeds  from  the 
Middle  States  of  the  Union  northward  to  the 
Yukon  and  spends  the  winter  in  the  Southern 
States,  Central  and  South  America,  starting  for 
these  winter  quarters  generally  during  the  lat- 
ter part  of  September. 

As  is  the  case  with  most  of  the  migrant  wad- 
ers, we,  of  New  England,  see  a  very  small  part 
of  this  vast  army  of  winged  pilgrims,  the  bulk 
of  the  flights  passing  over  the  western  coun- 
try, where  this  species  is  especially  abundant, 
traveling  in  flocks  of  thousands  during  the  sea- 
sons of  migration.  When  the  law's  protect- 
ing shield  is  taken  away  the  market  gunners  kill 
great  numbers  of  these  birds  every  year,  for 
the  Uplands  on  the  western  prairies  become  ex- 
tremely tame,  almost  beyond  the  belief  of  the 


202  FEATHERED  GAME 

eastern  gunner.  But  it  is  only  in  the  sparsely 
settled  portions  of  New  England — in  the  com- 
paratively few  stretches  of  open  country, — 
large  hayfields  or  pastures — that  the  Upland 
dwells  and  raises  his  family.  From  the  nature 
of  our  section  it  is  only  to  be  expected  that 
fewer  of  this  species  are  found  here  than  in  the 
West,  where  every  condition  is  favorable  and 
all  things  are  as  though  especially  planned  for 
their  comfort  and  happiness. 

Here  in  New  England  they  begin  to  nest  dur- 
ing the  latter  part  of  May.  At  this  season  the 
male  is  very  attentive  to  his  mate,  seldom  leav- 
ing her  for  any  length  of  time,  and  even  then, 
model  husband  that  he  is,  he  does  not  stray  far 
from  home.  The  nest  is  a  flimsy  affair  of  dry 
grass  lining  a  shallow  hollow  in  the  ground. 
The  eggs,  generally  four  in  number,  are  clay- 
colored  and  speckled  over  with  brownish  spots. 

All  through  the  warm  days  of  spring  and 
early  summer  the  Upland  enjoys  perfect  peace 
and  security.  The  meadow  grass  and  daisies 
grow  tall  and  stout  around  the  nest,  shading 
and  sheltering  the  little  home  so  snugly  hidden 
away  from  all  disturbers.  When  the  little  ones 
have  struck  out  for  themselves  the  fat  and  lazy 


THE  UPLAND  PLOVER  203 

insects  are  buzzing  and  flying  sleepily  in  the 
fields,  the  grasshoppers  and  crickets  are  ''too 
lazy  to  get  out  of  their  own  way,"  the  straw- 
berries are  plenty  and  sweet,  and  until  now  all 
things  have  been  just  as  the  bird  would  have 
had  them.  By  the  time  the  farmer  is  ready  to 
cut  the  ripened  hay  the  little,  long-legged  grass- 
hopper killers  are  large  enough  to  look  out  for 
themselves  and  strong  enough  for  a  long  flight 
if  it  is  necessary.  So  the  haying  time  is  the 
first  hint  they  have  that  all  the  world  is  not  hap- 
piness and  peace,  and  oftentimes,  until  bitter 
experience  has  shown  them  the  need  of  caution 
they  will  hardly  get  out  of  the  way  of  the  men 
at  work  in  the  fields.  I  have  watched  a  young 
Upland  for  two  hours  at  a  stretch,  walking  it 
up  from  the  grass  and  calling  it  back  by  an  imi- 
tation of  its  note.  Rarely  would  it  go  a  hun- 
dred yards  away  and  every  whistling  call  was 
quickly  answered.  I  stood  in  plain  sight,  but 
the  bird  would  curl  and  wheel  about  my  head, 
at  times  almost  within  hand  reach,  then  drop- 
ping to  the  ground  within  twenty  paces  dis- 
tance, would  run  through  the  grass  to  get  a 
nearer  view  of  the  visitor,  peeping  from  behind 
a  thick  growing  clump,  then  running  to  another, 


204  FEATHERED  GAME 

often  coming  within  ten  feet  of  me  and  all  the 
time  conversing  in  its  own  tongue  with  soft, 
twittering  notes.  What  a  graceful  creature  it 
was,  and  how  daintily  it  stepped!  This  was 
just  before  the  haying  season.  In  two  weeks' 
time  I  went  again  to  the  same  place  and  could 
not  get  within  a  hundred  yards  of  any  bird. 
It  takes  but  little  to  teach  them  caution.  Soon 
they  will  fly  at  the  first  sight  of  man;  and  no 
wonder,  for  once  the  hay  is  gathered  in,  all  is 
ready  to  hunt  and  harry  them  from  their  favor- 
ite fields.  The  farmers'  boys  have  usually  had 
about  two  weeks  of  fun  with  the  Uplands  when 
the  shooting  season  commences  here  (Maine), 
on  August  first,  and  as  they  are  the  first  game 
birds  to  come  into  season  they  are  greatly  ap- 
preciated and  eagerly  hunted  the  instant  the 
law  is  off.  During  this  month  they  are  found 
in  the  lately-mown  hayfields,  where  hunting  Up- 
lands in  the  glare  of  August's  sun  with  never  a 
tree  for  shelter  is  rather  warm  work.  Early  in 
the  morning,  some  time  before  daylight,  they 
may  be  heard  as  they  wheel  about  in  the  black- 
ness overhead,  all  the  time  sending  down  their 
gurgling  call.  Long  before  the  first  streak  of 
light  has  shot  across  the  sky  they  are  busily  en- 


THE  UPLAND  PLOVER  205 

gaged  in  breakfasting  on  the  insects,  now 
chilled  with  cold,  dull  and  stupid  in  the  dew- 
laden  grass.  Then  is  the  time  to  be  upon  the 
grounds  and  beat  up  the  fields,  for,  like  most 
wild  creatures,  they  may  be  more  readily  ap- 
proached in  the  early  morning  and  about  sun- 
down than  at  other  times  of  the  day. 

The  most  popular  way  of  hunting  these  birds 
hereabout  is  to  make  up  a  large  party  in  order 
to  more  thoroughly  cover  the  fields  and  grassy 
flats  which  they  inhabit,  as  in  this  way  more 
birds  will  be  found.  The  larger  the  force  the 
better,  for,  as  a  friend  who  had  a  just  appreci- 
ation of  my  abilities  with  the  scatter  gun  once 
said  in  inviting  me  to  attend  such  an  excursion, 
"You'd  better  come, — you  know  those  that 
can't  shoot  can  scare  'em  up  for  the  others." 

As  a  sport  for  a  lazy  man  gunning  Uplands 
can  hardly  be  considered  a  glittering  success. 
It  means  much  hard  work  with  a  large  element 
of  uncertainty  as  to  results.  The  sportsman 
must  be  willing  to  keep  trying  all  the  time  if 
he  would  make  a  creditable  showing,  and  so  he 
plods  across  the  fields  under  the  glare  of  the 
sun  and  wonders  where  the  birds  may  be.  He 
drives  clouds  of  insects  up  from  beneath  his 


206  FEATHERED  GAME 

feet — grasshoppers  in  blundering  flight  butt 
their  heads  against  him  as  though  they  thought 
to  put  him  to  rout  with  their  headlong  charge, — 
bumblebees  cross  his  path  with  droning  note, 
and  swallows  career  about  him,  making  a  feast 
off  the  tiny  myriads  which  his  march  disturbs. 
Eight  and  left  go  scurrying  brown  sparrows, 
and  other  small  fowl  rise  unexpectedly  from  the 
stubble.  Flocks  of  rusty-looking  bobolinks, 
scarcely  to  be  known  as  the  gay  birds  of  two 
months  ago,  dash  out  from  the  oat  patch  with 
chirping  discontent,  and  over  all  the  breath  of 
summer  and  perchance  the  air  like  a  furnace. 

Suddenly  another  note,  a  gurgling,  rippling, 
bubbling  whistle,  cuts  short  the  gunner's  day 
dream,  and  as  it  sounds  a  second  time  he  comes 
out  from  his  sleepy  state  with  a  sudden  start. 
It  was  that  for  which  he  has  listened.  Look 
where  he  may — right  or  left,  above,  ahead,  be- 
hind, he  sees  no  bird,  but  still  the  flute-like  note 
is  heard,  and  at  last,  a  hundred  yards  away,  his 
eye  catches  the  flicker  of  sunlight  on  a  pair  of 
brown  wings  just  as  they  are  folded  from  their 
flight.  That  soft  and  mellow  whistle  has  some 
peculiar  quality,  which,  when  it  comes  dropping 


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THE  UPLAND  PLOVER  207 

down  from  the  summer  sky,  makes  it  the  most 
difficult  of  all  sounds  to  accurately  locate. 

Xow  the  sportsman's  troubles  commence,  for 
that  one  bird  if  it  pleases  (as  it  usually  does) 
can  furnish  him  a  whole  day's  "sport"  by 
tantalizingly  keeping  just  out  of  range.  As  the 
name  indicates,  they  dwell  mostly  in  the  open 
hayfields,  moving  on  rapid  feet  through  the 
grass  in  pursuit  of  the  insects  which  make  their 
principal  food.  In  such  places  as  these  any 
near  approach  to  them  is  most  difficult,  as  the 
Upland,  after  his  domestic  duties  are  done  and 
his  family  is  brought  up,  is  a  very  shy  and  wary 
bird,  commonly  springing  up  and  away  before 
the  gunner  can  get  within  shot  reach,  whistling 
merrily  his  rolling,  liquid  note  as  he  goes. 

Slender  and  graceful,  long  of  limb,  one  of  the 
swiftest  fliers  of  a  fleet-winged  family,  the  Up- 
land has  been  unusually  favored  among  our 
dwellers  of  the  wilderness,  and  comparatively 
few  of  them  fall  a  prey  to  the  gunner.  He  can 
run  fast — faster  than  any  man — and  will  give 
a  dog  a  good  race.  It  is  laughable  to  see  a  gun- 
ner lose  his  breath  and  temper  in  trying  to 
catch  a  wounded  bird. 


208  FEATHERED  GAME 

The  Upland's  call  is  somewhat  similar  to  the 
"winter's,"  equally  clear  and  musical  and 
rather  more  mellow  in  tone.  Not  so  pow- 
erful as  the  whistle  of  the  "yellow-legs,"  nor 
so  long  extended,  it  is  in  most  cases  three  clear, 
quickly-sounded  notes,  which  are  heard  much 
farther  than  would  at  first  be  thought.  They 
have  also,  a  low,  twittering  note  in  conversation 
among  themselves, — a  sound  like  gurgling  wa- 
ter, but  not  sufficiently  like  it  to  cure  your  Au- 
gust thirst  contracted  in  pursuit  of  them.  When 
a  flock  is  disturbed  in  their  home  fields,  the  scat- 
tered members  keep  up  a  continual  chorus  of 
this  music  from  one  bunch  to  another  as  they 
wheel  about  in  search  of  safe  grounds  to  rest 
upon.  Seen  on  the  wing  when  moving  care- 
lessly about  in  the  mere  enjoyment  of  flight, 
traveling  from  knoll  to  knoll  and  not  alarmed, 
they  will  remind  the  observer  of  some  of  the 
smaller  hawks  from  their  swift,  sharp  strokes 
alternating  with  an  easy,  sailing  flight.  The 
gunner  will  notice,  however,  this  difference 
from  the  sailing  of  the  hawks — that,  in  shore- 
bird  fashion,  they  carry  their  wings  deeply 
down-curved. 

There  is  little  profit  in  trying  to  call  them. 


THE  UPLAND  PLOVER  209 

They  pay  scant  attention  to  any  such  attempts 
at  scraping  an  acquaintance,  and  though  they 
may  answer,  will  continue  upon  their  way  with- 
out any  effort  at  sociability.  Sometimes  to  get 
a  fair  shot  advantage  may  be  taken  of  the  cat- 
tle if  they  are  grazing  in  the  fields,  as  the  Up- 
lands for  a  long  time  familiar  with  and  so  hav- 
ing no  fear  of  these  quiet  neighbors,  suspect  no 
danger  from  their  close  approach.  The  gun- 
ner may  urge  the  grazing  cow  gently  toward 
the  birds,  keeping  himself  well  hidden  behind 
her  until  near  enough.  It  is  needless  to  say 
that  the  same  trustful  animal  will  not  consent  to 
be  for  a  second  time  a  movable  blind  for  the 
gunner,  for  until  the  shock  to  her  nervous  sys- 
tem has  passed  off  she  is  likely  to  be  as  wary  as 
the  birds  themselves,  trotting  off  at  once  and 
shaking  her  horns  in  a  decided  negative  at  any 
attempt  to  renew  the  acquaintance. 

A  barren,  rocky  pasture,  fit  only  for  the  sheep 
to  graze  in,  and  whose  sandy  soil  is  overgrown 
with  a  crunching  carpet  of  dry  moss  and  lich- 
ens is  often  a  very  good  ground  for  Uplands 
and  they  may  be  seen  scurrying  about  in  squads 
of  half-a-dozen  or  more,  running  races  for  some 
particularly  fat  cricket  or  grasshopper.     But 


210  FEATHERED  GAME 

think  not  to  approach  them  here, — if  you  can 
see  them  how  much  more  do  3Tou  yourself  loom 
up?  At  the  first  attempt  to  get  within  range 
away  goes  every  bird  in  sight  with  a  loud  chorus 
of  whistling  derision,  flying  a  hundred  yards, 
alighting  to  run  as  much  farther  and  then  be- 
ginning to  feed  with  watchful  eye  upon  the 
stranger,  each  ready  to  leave  in  an  instant. 

A  western  friend  tells  me  of  the  method  of 
hunting  Uplands  in  his  country,  on  the  prairies : 
a  comfortable  way  of  gunning  in  hot  weather. 
Two  or  three  men  drive  in  a  wagon  over  the 
grass  ground  to  approach  the  birds,  which  will 
generally  allow  a  team  to  come  quite  near. 
When  the  birds  begin  to  show  signs  of  uneasi- 
ness the  sportsmen  jump  out  and  blaze  away. 
Our  westerner  thought  that  it  might  be  a  good 
plan  of  campaign  for  New  England,  but  one  trip 
was  enough  to  change  his  mind.  The  rugged 
nature  of  our  county  and  the  prospect  of  lifting 
the  outfit  over  a  stone  wall  or  picking  the  horse 
off  a  barbed  wire  fence  every  few  minutes  some- 
what upset  his  theories  before  the  day  was  over. 

I  wish  to  note  a  circumstance  which  to  me 
seems  quite  unusual:  on  one  plover  excursion 
my  companion  and  I  saw  an  Upland  rise  from 


THE  UPLAND  PLOVER  211 

the  grass  and  without  being  shot  at  or  in  any 
way  disturbed,  alight  in  the  top  of  a  tall  maple 
tree,  fully  fifty  feet  from  the  ground,  and  stand 
balancing  and  swaying  on  the  topmost  branch 
as  easily  as  any  robin  might  have  done,  staying 
there  until  at  our  getting  within  gunshot  it  flew 
away, — and  continued  flying  despite  our  best 
efforts  at  stopping  it.  We  have  not  found  any 
of  our  shooting  acquaintances  who  have  seen 
the  like,  although  the  Upland  makes  a  regular 
practice  of  perching  upon  fences  and  low 
stumps,  and  one  bird,  after  leading  me  a  long, 
hot  chase  through  field  and  pasture,  finally  ag- 
gravated his  offense  by  alighting  on  a  woodpile 
in  a  farmer 's  dooryard,  well  out  of  reach  of  my 
gun,  but  not  fifty  feet  from  where  the  propri- 
etor was  "hitching  up"  his  team.  That  bird  is 
still  enjoying  good  health  for  all  that  I  know  to 
the  contrary.  About  the  last  of  August  the 
scattered  families  unite  in  one  large  flock  and 
depart  for  the  nearest  marsh,  remaining  in  its 
drier  levels  until  near  the  middle  of  Septem- 
ber, when  they  leave  for  the  south,  where  they 
pass  the  winter  in  our  Southern  States,  par- 
ticularly on  the  grassy  plains  of  Texas  and  New 
Mexico.     Here  during  the  cold  weather  there 


212  FEATHERED  GAME 

are  countless  numbers  of  them.  Many  go  far- 
ther on  to  the  cattle  ranges  of  Mexico,  and  some 
go  far  down  into  South  America,  even  to  the 
pampas  of  Argentina,  leaving  for  their  north- 
ern summer  homes  about  the  end  of  March. 

There  may  be  two  minds  as  to  the  palate- 
pleasing  qualities  of  many  a  duck,  quail,  or 
even  grouse,  for  all  these  have  some  peculi- 
arities which  do  not  appeal  to  the  uneducated 
palate,  but  the  man  who  can  not  appreciate  the 
tender  flesh  and  delicate  flavor  of  the  Upland 
Plover  must  be  hard  indeed  to  suit.  To  my 
mind  the  Upland  ranks  equal  to  any  game  bird 
of  America  as  a  table  delicacy.  They  get  sur- 
prisingly fat  in  the  fall,  sometimes  even  to 
splitting  their  skins  upon  striking  the  ground 
when  brought  down  by  the  gunner. 

Above,  the  Upland  is  mostly  of  dusky  hue, 
with  a  greenish,  satiny  sheen  to  the  feathers, 
mottled  with  tawny  and  whitish  yellow,  the 
light  colors  mostly  on  the  edges  and  tips  of 
the  feathers ;  the  top  of  the  head  and  back  dark- 
est and  the  yellow  tones  predominant  on  neck, 
breast  and  wings.  The  rump  dull  blackish,  this 
color  carried  down  over  the  central  feathers  of 
the  tail,  with  these  barred  as  are  the   other 


THE  UPLAND  PLOVER  213 

feathers;  but  the  outer  ones  are  much  lighter, 
shading  from  the  dark  central  feathers  through 
ever-lightening  tones  of  orange-brown  to 
creamy  white  on  the  outer  pair,  all  showing 
subterminal  black  bars  and  white  tips.  Scap- 
ulars and  inner  secondaries  are  regularly 
barred  with  black  on  a  dusky  ground.  Chin 
white,  shading  into  the  yellowish  brown  of  the 
forebreast  and  neck,  and  these  parts  streaked 
with  fine  dusky  lines  on  the  sides,  growing 
larger  and  heavier  on  the  throat  and  taking  the 
shape  of  arrowheads  on  the  breast.  Axillars 
and  linings  of  the  wings  pure  white,  very  even- 
ly barred  with  black ;  for  the  rest  of  the  under 
parts  yellowish  white.  Primaries  brownish 
black,  the  first  white-shafted  and  brokenly 
barred  with  white  on  inner  webs.  Barrings 
often  show  on  other  primaries,  though  generally 
obscured.  Bill  yellow,  black-tipped.  Feet  dull 
yellow;  iris  dark  brown.  Length  from  eleven 
to  thirteen  inches;  extent  from  twenty-two  to 
twenty-four  inches.     Sexes  marked  alike. 


214  FEATHERED  GAME 


BUFF-BREASTED  SANDPIPER. 

(Tryngites  subruficollis.) 

Not  a  common  bird  in  New  England,  but  of 
more  common  occurrence  in  the  interior  of  the 
continent.  The  whole  of  North  America  is  the 
habitat  of  this  species.  It  breeds  throughout 
the  Arctic  regions  and  migrates  for  the  winter 
months  even  as  far  as  South  America.  Has 
been  taken  frequently  in  Europe. 

The  Buffbreast  bears  a  close  resemblance  to 
the  upland  plover  in  coloring,  and  to  some  ex- 
tent in  form,  though  the  tones  of  its  plumage 
are  lighter  and  the  bird  is  considerably  smaller. 
On  two  occasions  I  have  had  gunners  bring  me 
what  they  thought  to  be  young  or  small  uplands 
which  turned  out  to  be  BufT-Breasted  Pipers. 

The  habits  and  food  of  this  and  the  last  spe- 
cies are  nearly  the  same  and  their  choice  of 
homes  is  much  alike,  with  the  difference  that 
this  bird  is  fonder  of  the  muddy  edges  of  "pond- 
holes"  and  a  snail  diet  than  is  the  upland 
plover. 

For  its  markings,  as  follows:  above  dark 
brown  or  blackish,  with  broad  brownish  yellow 


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THE  SICKLE-BILLED  CURLEW    215 

edges  to  the  feathers.  Primaries  and  second- 
aries dusky  brown,  darkening  at  the  ends  and 
white-tipped.  Webs  of  secondaries  and  inner 
webs  of  primaries  grayish  white,  speckled  and 
blotched  with  black — a  marking  which  locates 
this  bird  at  once.  Axillars  and  linings  of  wings 
whitish  or  pale  reddish.  Iris  brown ;  bill  black ; 
legs  greenish.  Tail  feathers  shading  like  the 
upland's  from  dark  brown,  almost  greenish,  on 
the  central  to  light  brownish  yellow  on  the  outer 
ones,  these  tipped  with  white  and  with  a  sub- 
terminal  bar  of  black.  Central  tail  feathers 
slightly  longer  than  the  others.  Male  and  fe- 
male marked  alike.  Length  from  seven  and 
one-half  to  eight  inches;  extent  varying  from 
fifteen  to  sixteen  inches. 


THE  SICKLE-BILLED  CURLEW. 

(Numenius  longirostris.) 

The  Sickle-billed  Curlew  is  of  great  size ;  the 
largest  of  the  game  waders.  It  is  a  long  time 
since  one  has  been  taken  in  northern  New  Eng- 
land, and  while  more  are  captured  in  the  south- 
ern portions,  even  there  it  is  not  numerous.  The 
few  that  have  been  procured  have  nearly  all 


216  FEATHERED  GAME 

been  killed  on  Cape  Cod  during  the  fall  flights 
where,  when  the  birds  are  moving,  decoys  and 
skillful  use  of  a  plover  whistle  are  more  pro- 
ductive of  good  results  than  elsewhere  in  our 
section.  All  the  curlews  decoy  readily  and  are 
loth  to  leave  a  wounded  friend,  so  that  a  gun- 
ner may  get  several  shots  into  a  flock  if  he  has 
downed  a  bird  or  two  with  his  first  barrel. 

This  species  is  a  lover  of  warm  weather,  sel- 
dom going  north  beyond  the  temperate  zone, 
and  breeding  in  almost  any  part  of  its  habitat. 
During  the  winter  months  they  are  quite  abund- 
ant on  the  plains  of  Mexico  and  Texas  and  all 
along  the  shores  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  to  Cen- 
tral America.  They  are  quite  common  through- 
out our  southwestern  States  and  on  the  sand- 
bars along  the  coasts  of  our  South  Atlantic 
States  during  the  breeding  season.  The  clutch 
of  eggs  numbers  three  or  four,  dingy  gray,  and 
nearly,  if  not  quite,  as  large  as  hens'  eggs. 

The  bill  is  often  of  great  length,  though  vary- 
ing much  in  specimens  according  to  the  age  and 
development  of  the  bird,  running  from  four  to 
eight  inches.  This  is  mainly  black,  though 
much  of  the  under  mandible  is  yellowish.  In 
adult  birds  the  bill  is  considerably  down-curved 
at  the  tip. 


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THE  SICKLE-BILLED  CURLEW   217 

The  male  and  female  are  marked  alike.  Top 
of  the  head  indistinctly  streaked  with  black, 
reddish  and  whitish;  same  colors  on  hind  neck 
and  here  more  distinct.  Above,  brownish  black, 
spotted  with  tawny  yellow  and  reddish  brown 
scalloped  on  the  edges  of  the  feathers ;  wing  co- 
verts with  reddish  tones  predominant.  Pri- 
maries dusky,  mottled  with  red-brown.  Sec- 
ondaries and  tail  feathers  reddish  brown  with 
regular  barrings  of  black.  Below,  light  reddish 
brown,  darkest  on  breast  and  under  wing  cov- 
erts, paler  on  the  throat,  in  fact,  here  nearly 
white.  Lower  throat  and  breast  streaked  with 
blackish,  the  markings  growing  larger  and 
darker  on  the  sides  of  breast  and  body,  in  these 
places  becoming  well  defined  arrow  heads  and 
bars  of  black.  Lining  of  wings  and  crissum  un- 
spotted. Legs  grayish  brown;  the  toes  short 
and  stout,  flattened  beneath,  and  widely  mar- 
gined on  the  edges.  Length  very  variable; 
from  twenty-four  inches  upward,  according  to 
the  age  of  the  bird  and  consequent  development 
of  the  bill.  Extent  from  thirty-eight  to  forty 
inches. 

The  Sickle-bill  is  a  fine  bird,  in  quality  ot  flesh 
equal  to  any  of  the  smaller  waders  and  superior 
to    most,    ranking   high    as    a    table    delicacy. 


218  FEATHERED  GAME 

When  dwelling  on  the  coast  its  food  is  mostly  of 
crabs  of  the  smaller  sorts,  sea  snails  and  "  wrig- 
glers ' '  of  various  kinds,  but  in  the  inland  coun- 
try its  table  is  furnished  with  grass-hoppers 
and  berries  and  the  same  menu  which  is  set  be- 
fore the  " upland  plover"  in  the  same  places. 
They  often  make  long  trips  for  delicacies  of  this 
sort  when  dwelling  on  the  coast,  and  the  low, 
berry-covered  heaths  lining  the  shores  furnish 
great  attractions  to  migrant  flocks. 


HUDSONIAN  CURLEW.    "JACK  CUR- 
LEW." 

(Numenius  hudsonicus.) 

Of  the  two  species  which  we  may  call  common 
to  New  England  this  is  the  one  more  rarely 
taken  within  our  borders.  In  the  main  it  is 
found  here  during  the  season  of  the  fall  migra- 
tions, when  it  inhabits  either  the  outer  sea 
islands,  the  sandy  ocean  beaches  or  the  sea 
marshes,  but  most  of  all  the  uninhabited  grassy 
islands  well  offshore.  It  is  one  of  the  wariest 
of  the  waders,  shy  and  difficult  of  approach, 
though  sometimes  giving  good  sport  over  de- 


HUDSONIAN  CURLEW  219 

coys  if  the  sportsman  is  well  concealed.  Like 
the  last  species,  on  the  marshes  and  inland  it 
is  fond  of  berries  and  small  fruits,  but  on  the 
seacoast  subsists  mostly  on  snails  and  marine 
creatures. 

This  bird  is  considerably  smaller  than  the 
1 '  sickle-bill ' '  and  is  not  so  brightly  colored.  He 
is  from  fifteen  to  seventeen  inches  long  and  has 
a  sail  spread  of  about  thirty-three  inches.  The 
top  of  the  head  is  dusky  brown  with  a  white 
stripe  through  the  centre  and  along  each  side. 
A  dark  strip  from  the  bill  through  the  eye  to 
the  ear  coverts.  Above,  dusky  browns  and 
blacks,  mottled  with  whitish  and  dull  yellow,  the 
dark  shades  making  the  body  color.  Tail  gray- 
ish brown  with  indistinct  black  bars.  Primaries 
dusky  brown  with  lighter  mottlings.  Linings 
of  the  wings  pale  red-brown  with  dusky  bar- 
rings,— markings  which  will  serve  to  distinguish 
this  from  young  and  undeveloped  specimens  of 
the  Sickle-bill.  Under  parts  grayish  white. 
Lower  throat  and  upper  breast  with  dusky 
streaks,  these  becoming  arrowheads  or  broken 
barrings  on  breast  and  flanks.  Legs  and  feet 
blackish;    bill   blackish,   flesh-colored   at   base, 


220  FEATHERED  GAME 

stout,  curving,  from  three  to  four  inches  long.' 
The  length  of  the  bill  varies  greatly  in  different 
specimens. 

This  species  is  not  so  numerous  as  either  of 
the  other  two,  but  it  is  an  occasional  visitor  in 
every  part  of  our  continent,  dwelling  in  the 
north  during  the  summer  months  and  in  winter 
migrating  with  other  travelers  of  the  air  far  into 
the  south,  to  Central  and  South  America. 


ESQUIMAUX  CURLEW.  "DOUGH 
BIRD." 

(Numenius  borealis.) 

The  smallest  and  most  numerous  of  our  cur- 
lews. This  species  is  marked  very  nearly  like 
the  Hudsonian,  but  in  ruddier  tones.  The  bill 
is  considerably  shorter  than  in  the  last  species 
— from  two  and  one-half  to  three  inches  long. 
In  length  this  bird  is  from  twelve  to  fourteen 
inches,  in  extent  from  twenty-seven  to  twenty- 
nine.  The  colors,  both  light  and  dark,  are  more 
decided  than  in  hudsonicus.  Probably  none  of 
these  birds  breed  in  our  borders,  but  go  to  the 
Arctic  portions  of  the  continent,  wandering  in 
the  fall  all  through  the  United  States.    In  all 


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ESQUIMAUX  CURLEW  221 

this  territory,  surely  in  the  northern  half,  this 
is  the  most  numerous  species  of  curlew.  In  the 
cold  weather  it  joins  the  rest  of  its  family  iu 
the  warm  climates,  sometimes  going  down  into 
the  pampas  of  Argentina  for  winter  quarters. 

It  nests  on  the  plains  of  the  interior,  the 
number  of  eggs  commonly  four,  greenish  gray 
in  color,  with  mottlings  of  varying  hue,  though 
in  most  cases  brown. 

Inland  it  lives  much  like  and  is  often  found 
with  the  upland  plover  and  the  golden  plover  in 
their  prairie  ranges,  but  to  the  New  England 
gunner  it  is  only  a  chance  acquaintance  met  on 
the  sea  ledges,  the  marshes  alongshore  and  on 
the  outer  islands.  They  are  fairly  regulai 
summer  visitors,  both  this  species  and  the  Hud- 
sonian  curlew,  to  those  grassy  solitudes,  de- 
serted islands  far  off  shore,  where  sea  fowl  and 
shore  birds  are  seldom  disturbed  by  any  crea- 
ture more  dangerous  than  the  sheep  which  are 
pastured  there. 

Though  quite  wary  they  will  decoy  well  if  the 
sportsman  is  hidden  and  can  imitate  their  call 
passably.  The  flesh  of  this  and  all  other  mem- 
bers of  the  family  is  of  good  flavor  and  is  in 
good  condition  at  all  seasons  of  the  year.     The 


222  FEATHERED  GAME 

curlews,  when  able  to  procure  such  food,  are 
very  fond  of  berries  and  will  travel  long  dis- 
tances to  obtain  them.  In  the  fall  months  they 
are  surprisingly  fat  after  this  diet. 

They  arrive  in  New  England,  northward 
bound,  in  April  or  the  first  of  May,  but  do  not 
tarry  on  their  journey,  rarely  stopping  more 
than  a  day  or  two  for  food  and  rest.  Their 
southern  migration  is  performed  more  leisure- 
ly, the  birds  arriving  during  the  first  half  of 
August,  even  the  middle  of  July  at  times,  and 
lingering  on  through  their  "vacation  time"  well 
into  September. 

The  curlews  are  very  popular  with  the  shore 
gunner  and  always  welcome  in  his  game  bag. 
The  sportsmen  of  this  section  still  speak  im- 
pressively of  the  great  flight  of  these  birds 
which  landed  upon  our  coast  some  twenty  years 
ago.  They  haunted  the  high  lands,  the  hay 
fields,  and  the  "upland"  country  generally, — 
a  matter  of  great  surprise  to  the  most  of  our 
baymen,  who  had  been  accustomed  to  find  them 
mainly  in  the  marshes  and  thought  these  places 
their  only  legitimate  grounds.  They  were  mov- 
ing southward  leisurely,  only  going  a  few  miles 
each  day,  so  that  they  stayed  nearly  a  week 


THE  KING  RAIL  223 

with  us  and  the  slayer  of  plover  and  baybirds 
had  a  treat  of  which  they  still  speak  longingly. 
There  were  literally  thousands  of  them.  Every 
field  of  ordinary  size  had  its  flock  or  its  gunner 
lurking  in  the  shadow  of  a  rock  or  hidden  in  a 
clump  of  weeds  with  a  bunch  of  decoys  before 
him,  intent  on  breaking  all  former  records  of 
slaughter.  The  thoughts  of  the  juicy  "feeds" 
of  those  days  make  my  mouth  water  yet. 


THE  KING  RAIL. 

(Rallus  elegans.) 

Just  what  percentage  of  the  population  of 
our  marshes  is  made  up  of  the  rail  family  it  is 
difficult  to  say,  but  it  is  surely  a  large  propor- 
tion. They  are  constantly  changing  residence 
and  there  is  a  large  "floating  population"  hav- 
ing no  fixed  abode.  Often  rails  are  numerous 
in  localities  where  their  human  neighbors  never 
suspect  their  presence.  I  once  showed  the  con- 
tents of  my  game  bag  to  a  man  who  lived  on 
the  edge  of  my  favorite  marsh;  in  it  were  a 
number  of  rails  and  he  was  curious  to  know 
what  they  were,  saying  that  he  had  lived  there 
all  his  life  (where  I  had  shot  hundreds  of  them) 


224  FEATHERED  GAME 

"without  ever  having  seen  one  before.  He 
readily  named  the  different  shorebirds  which 
were  taken  in  the  same  place. 

The  rails  are  a  numerous  family  and  one  of 
wide  dispersion,  there  being  at  the  proper  sea- 
son some  representative  in  every  habitable 
quarter  of  the  globe.  The  characteristics  of  the 
different  members  of  the  family  are  everywhere 
the  same ;  the  bodies,  thin  and  compressed,  mak- 
ing up  for  a  lack  of  "beam"  by  a  much  greater 
depth  than  usual;  the  legs  long  and  very  mus- 
cular, with  large  feet  and  long  toes  to  assist  in 
their  traveling  easily  over  the  floating  grasses 
and  drift  stuff  so  plentiful  in  their  favorite 
haunts.  Their  wings  are  short  and  rounded, 
and  have  nothing  like  the  sail  area  of  the 
"bay  snipe."  From  this  fact  their  flight  is 
widely  different  from  the  free,  bold  and  power- 
ful action  of  the  plover-snipe  group.  Indeed  it 
is  such  an  effort  for  the  Rail  to  lift  his  heavy 
body,  long  legs  and  plebeian  feet  clear  of  the 
ground  that  every  member  of  the  tribe  has  an 
inborn  dislike  of  flying,  and  so,  if  pursued,  he 
runs,  skulks  among  the  grass  stems,  crawls  into 
the  drain  holes  and  the  half-subterranean  pas- 
sages made  by  the  muskrat  and  mink,  and  only 


OS 

O 
z 

5 


THE  KING  RAIL  225 

when  at  the  last  resort  does  he  rise  with 
clumsy  haste,  his  big  feet  dangling  gracefully 
below  him,  and  flap  heavily  away,  coming  to  the 
ground  again  as  soon  as  ever  he  can  with  safety 
to  seek  a  surer  refuge  in  the  grass.  Yet  in 
spite  of  all  this  they  must  be  capable  of  a  long- 
sustained  flight,  for  they  often  cross  large 
bodies  of  water  in  their  migrations. 

But  whatever  the  case  with  their  wings  there 
is  never  a  suspicion  of  feebleness  in  their  long, 
muscular  legs,  and  it  is  to  these  members  that 
they  trust  mostly  for  escape  from  danger. 
They  swim  well  at  need,  when  their  long-toed 
feet  are  very  serviceable  as  paddles.  Under 
water  their  wings  are  called  to  the  aid  of  their 
feet  and  they  make  rapid  progress,  only  coming 
up  where  they  may  put  their  heads  out  through 
the  drift  stuff  in  safety. 

The  King  Rail,  the  largest  and  handsomest 
of  the  family  in  North  America,  is  a  near  rela- 
tion of  the  clapper  rail  which  is  perhaps  bet- 
ter known,  but  the  King  Rail  is  dressed  more 
stylishly  and  in  brighter  colors.  This  bird 
seems  to  prefer  the  fresh  water,  only  rarely  be- 
ing taken  on  the  marshes  of  the  seacoast.  He 
is  said  to  be  even  more  of  a  stranger  to  New 


226  FEATHERED  GAME 

England  than  is  the  clapper  rail.  There  are 
perhaps  half  a  dozen  authentic  records  of  its 
capture  in  the  State  of  Maine  during  a  period  of 
eighteen  years,  one  of  these  falling  to  the 
writer's  credit  on  the  19th  of  September,  1895. 
So  far  as  is  known  but  three  other  specimens 
have  been  taken,  two  of  these  from  the  Dyke 
Marsh  in  Falmouth,  (from  which  place  came 
my  own  specimen)  since  the  record  of  the  first 
specimen,  taken  on  Scarborough  Marsh,  Octo- 
ber 8,  1881,  by  Mr.  A.  G.  Rogers.  I  have  never 
known  of  the  capture  of  a  clapper  rail  in  the 
same  neighborhood  or  anywhere  near,  although 
our  marshes  are  all  of  the  sea  and  the  clapper 
rail  is  supposed  to  prefer  such  places  to  the 
swamps  of  the  fresh  water ;  moreover,  the  clap- 
per is  said  to  be  a  more  common  species  than 
the  King  Rail  in  all  parts  of  the  Atlantic  coast 
line.  In  the  southern  part  of  New  England  the 
King  Rail  is  more  common  than  with  us. 

This  bird  is  almost  an  exact  counterpart  of 
the  Virginia  Rail,  so  familiar  to  all  marsh  gun- 
ners, but  made  up  into  a  larger  package.  His 
length  varies  from  seventeen  to  nineteen  inches ; 
extent  from  twenty-three  to  twenty-five  inches. 
As  may  be  seen  this  is  the  largest  of  our  rails 


THE  CLAPPER  EAIL  227 

as  well  as  the  most  beautifully  colored.  Upper 
parts  varying  from  olive-brown  to  black — the 
edges  of  the  feathers  the  lighter  and  the  blacks 
on  their  centres.  The  scapulars  and  many  of 
the  back  feathers  widely  margined  with  grayish 
green.  Wings  and  tail  greenish  brown.  Wing 
coverts  quite  pronounced  reddish-brown.  Neck 
and  breast  reddish-brown,  paling  on  throat  and 
chin  nearly  to  white.  Flanks  barred  in  black 
and  white  sharply  defined. 

Like  the  rest  of  his  race  he  passes  the  winter 
in  the  south — (some  few  may  remain  in  south- 
ern New  England) — and  his  habits  and  mode  of 
life  are  the  same  as  those  of  the  rest  of  his  big- 
footed  family.  He  prefers  the  unapproachable 
and  impenetrable  stretches  of  the  marsh,  and 
among  the  flags  and  cat-tails  where  he  dwells 
he  may  laugh  at  pursuit  except  on  the  highest 
water.  He  is  a  feeder  on  both  vegetable  and 
animal  matter  and  his  flesh  is  only  fair  for  the 
table. 

THE  CLAPPER  RAIL. 

(Rallus  crepitans.) 

A  bird  of  uncommon  occurrence,  seldom  cap- 
tured  by   the   New   England    gunner.    In   its 


228  FEATHERED  GAME 

form  and  habits  much  like  the  familiar  Virginia 
rail,  and  similarly  marked,  though  its  general 
coloration  is  grayish  or  yellowish-brown.  Its 
plumage  with  its  blending  colors  lacks  the 
bright  tones  of  reds  and  browns  sharply  con- 
trasted with  the  blacks  as  they  appear  in  the 
Virginia. 

In  the  breeding  season  these  birds  are  very 
noisy  and  keep  up  a  continual  clatter,  whence 
their  name.  A  dweller  in  the  marshes,  mainly 
those  of  the  seacoast,  he  is  found  all  along  the 
Atlantic  seaboard  of  the  United  States,  as  far 
north  as  New  England  during  the  breeding  sea- 
son, and  spending  the  winter  months  in  the 
Southern  States  and  even  farther  toward  the 
tropics.  This  species  is  far  more  abundant  in 
its  southern  range  than  elsewhere. 

Their  nesting  habits  are  much  as  in  the  other 
species ;  a  little  above  the  high  tide  level  a  sort 
of  platform  of  reeds  and  dry  grasses  matted  to- 
gether just  out  of  the  water  constitutes  the  nest. 
This  contains  anywhere  from  six  to  ten  eggs, 
in  color  creamy  white,  freckled  with  red-brown 
spots. 

The  adult  bird  is  of  brownish-olive  hue  above, 
with  dusky  streaks  through  the  centres  of  the 


< 

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2 

5 

OS 


THE  VIRGINIA  RAIL  229 

feathers,  these  colors  fading  to  a  grayish  tinge 
on  the  edges.  Everywhere  the  colors  are  dull 
and  uncertain,  shading  and  blending  gradually 
one  into  the  other.  Below,  a  pale  yellowish 
brown,  growing  grayish  on  the  throat.  Flanks, 
axillars  and  linings  of  the  wings  dusky  gray 
with  small  narrow  bars  of  white.  The  whole 
tone  of  the  bird  is  ashy  gray.  Wing  quills  and 
tail  dark  brown;  eyelid  and  a  small  line  over 
the  eye  white.  Legs  and  feet  dull  greenish. 
Length  from  fourteen  to  sixteen  inches;  extent 
about  twenty  inches ;  female  a  little  less.  Being 
more  of  an  animal  feeder  than  is  the  sora  its 
flavor  is  hardly  as  good  as  that  of  the  more 
common  bird,  though  by  no  means  to  be  de- 
spised. 

THE  VIRGINIA  RAIL. 

(Rallus  virginianus.) 

Inhabiting  the  same  territory  as  the  sora,  or 
Carolina  rail, — though  preferring  those  spots 
where  the  fresh  water  springs  bubble  up 
through  the  mucky  ooze  of  the  marsh, — is  the 
next  most  numerous  species,  the  Virginia  Rail. 
This  is  a  very  showy  bird,  somewhat  larger  and 
more  brilliantly  colored  than  the  sora,  and  fur- 


230  FEATHERED  GAME 

nislied  with  a  long,  stout,  curved  bill  with  which 
to  procure  his  food, — insects,  snails,  and  the 
like — for  he  is  principally  an  animal  feeder. 
On  this  account  his  flesh  is  scarcely  as  good  as 
that  of  the  sora. 

The  Virginia  Rail's  nesting  habits  are  the 
same  as  the  other  members  of  the  family,  with 
a  larger  complement  of  eggs,  there  being  from 
seven  to  ten  in  a  setting,  dirty  white  in  color, 
and  splashed  with  purplish  spots.  The  Vir- 
ginia may  sometimes  raise  two  broods  in  a  sea- 
son, but  probably  not  often  in  New  England. 

This  bird  is  marked  as  follows:  above, 
streaked  with  dark  brown  and  brownish  olive, 
the  wing  coverts  a  deep  red  brown ;  top  of  head 
and  back  of  neck  dark  brown;  below  a  rich 
red  brown,  brightest  on  the  breast  and  fading 
out  toward  throat  and  belly;  flanks  and  insides 
of  wings  blackish,  barred  with  white.  The 
length  of  this  species  ten  inches,  extent  four- 
teen. Bill  about  one  and  three-quarters  inches 
long.  Female  smaller  than  the  male  and  lighter 
colored. 

A  past  master  in  the  art  of  skulking,  no  water 
rat  can  pass  through  tangled  grass  and  cat-tails 
as  rapidly  as  he,  when  running  with  his  head 


THE  SORA  RAIL  231 

low  and  wings  pressed  to  his  sides,  he  forces 
his  thin  body  in  its  rapid  course,  doubling  back 
and  forth  in  devious  ways  to  the  despair  of  all 
dogs.  A  few  trips  after  rails  would  spoil  the 
best  bird  dog  that  ever  lived.  Such  a  thing  as 
''laying  to  a  dog"  does  not  appear  in  any  of 
their  codes. 


THE  SORA  RAIL.     CAROLINA  RAIL. 

(Porzana  Carolina.) 

This  is  the  most  common  species  in  New  Eng- 
land as  elsewhere  on  the  eastern  half  of  our 
continent.  Almost  entirely  a  vegetable  feeder, 
in  our  sea  marshes  its  "staff  of  life"  is  the  long 
white  seeds  of  the  marsh  grass,  or  "thatch,"  as 
it  is  called,  which  lines  the  edges  of  the  tide 
waters  and  marshy  shores,  and  this,  with  the 
snails  and  "wigglers"  so  abundant  there,  forms 
its  entire  menu.  It  is  said  that  in  a  marsh 
where  much  shooting  is  done  they  will  some- 
times fill  themselves  up  with  shot,  which,  it  is 
claimed,  they  mistake  for  some  kind  of  seed. 
Though  we  have  seen  many  a  rail  filled  with  shot 
it  was  never  willingly  on  the  bird's  part,  and  I 
think  it  is  our  privilege  to  doubt  this  statement 


232  FEATHERED  GAME 

until  proven.  Let  us  not  trust  entirely  to  the 
rails'  crops  for  our  lead  while  we  may  buy  else- 
where. The  average  rail  is  very  well  content 
with  the  ' '  thatch ' '  seed,  which  is  plainly  a  very 
nutritious  food,  for  the  rails  on  such  diet  are 
always  fat  and  in  good  order. 

Rail-like,  the  Sora  flushes  only  as  a  last  re- 
sort, preferring,  if  in  danger,  to  run  and  skulk 
through  the  grass,  and  will  worm  and  twist  its 
way  among  the  closest-growing  stalks  with  con- 
siderable speed — a  proceeding  for  which  the 
shape  of  its  body  peculiarly  fits  it.  On  the  wing 
they  are  slow  and  clumsy,  flying  heavily  with 
their  long  legs  hanging,  and  unless  obliged  to 
continue  their  course  they  will  generally  drop 
at  once  into  the  grass  and  run  a  little  further 
before  hiding,  hugging  the  cover  even  closer 
at  the  next  attempt  to  put  them  up.  Yet  these 
same  birds  somehow  travel  from  the  mainland 
to  Cuba  in  their  migratory  flights,  which  take 
place  at  night  and  mostly  on  the  full  of  the 
moon. 

In  New  England  the  rail  is  almost  wholly  a 
migrant.  It  is  rarely  that  any  of  them  brave 
the  rigors  of  our  winters,  and  the  few  that  at- 
tempt it  do  so  only  in  the  southern  parts.     In 


< 

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< 

O 

(A 


THE  SORA  RAIL  233 

the  spring  they  arrive  here  about  May  and 
leave  for  their  winter  quarters  soon  after  the 
first  sharp  frosts,  though  I  have  known  of  their 
staying  here  (Maine)  until  December  twentieth 
in  a  mild  season. 

The  Sora  makes  its  nest  of  soft  dry  grasses 
on  a  little  hummock  just  above  the  high  water 
limit,  and  lays  from  four  to  six  eggs,  in  color 
a  dull  gray,  splashed  with  brownish  spots.  The 
young  are  covered  with  black  down  and  are  very 
active  almost  from  their  arrival,  running  about 
among  the  reeds  like  mice.  From  their  retir- 
ing habits  and  unobstrusive  natures  the  rails 
probably  suffer  less  from  hawks  or  other  marsh 
birds'  enemies  than  do  any  of  their  neighbors. 

My  best  sport  at  rail-shooting  has  been  dur- 
ing the  high  tides  on  the  full  of  the  moon  in 
September,  when  the  sea  had  filled  all  the  nooks 
and  corners  of  the  marsh  and  driven  the  birds 
in  from  their  resting  places  on  the  long  grass 
and  hummocks  scattered  through  it.  When  the 
tide  was  up  they  took  refuge  along  the  edges — 
up  in  the  fields — in  the  brush-grown  coves, 
where,  when  they  flushed  among  the  alders  it 
was  almost  woodcocking — in  fact,  anywhere  to 
find  cover.     A  good  spaniel  is  the  best  four- 


234  FEATHERED  GAME 

footed  assistant  in  this  sport,  both  for  finding 
the  game,  retrieving  the  dead  and  capturing 
skulking  wounded  birds.  When  beating  up  the 
edges,  suddenly  the  dog  would  stand,  then  creep- 
ing cautiously  up  would  stop  again,  with  his 
head  cocked  on  one  side,  listening  to  the  rail's 
mouse-like,  squeaking  cries.  At  the  word  he 
would  send  them  fluttering  heavily  into  the  air, 
the  proper  moment  to  shoot.  You  need  no 
heavy  charge  in  this  shooting.  Your  shots  will 
all  be  at  close  range  and  you  will  have  plenty 
of  time.  But  to  miss!  That  is  simply  dis- 
graceful ! 

Perhaps  the  best  way  to  hunt  rails  is  for  two 
men  to  take  a  light,  flat-bottomed  skiff  and  pole 
through  the  grass,  shooting  in  turn.  While 
rails  are  not  shot  here  in  any  such  numbers  as 
in  the  Jersey  marshes,  any  reasonable  sports- 
man should  be  satisfied  with  his  day's  fun,  for 
by  pushing  through  the  " thatch"  in  most  New 
England  sea  marshes  a  fair  bag  of  these  birds 
may  generally  be  made.  On  the  high  tides — 
the  full  moon  tides  which  are  the  best  times  to 
try  this — the  rails  may  be  seen  running  on  the 
edges,  splashing  about  on  the  long  grass-stems, 
which,  matted  together,   will  permit  them   to 


THE  SORA  RAIL  235 

pass  along  as  well  as  if  on  dry  ground,  or  swim- 
ming as  buoyantly  as  ducks  in  the  stretches  of 
clear  water,  bobbing  their  heads  much  as  does 
a  hen  when  walking.  Whether  walking  or  run- 
ning (and  they  are  seldom  still  for  an  instant) 
they  are  continually  flirting  their  tails  about, 
usually  carrying  them  jauntily  erect.  In  the 
spring  these  high  tides  are  often  very  destruc- 
tive to  rail's  nests  and  eggs. 

If  the  Sora  is  wounded,  but  uninjured  in  the 
legs,  you  may  as  well  give  up  all  idea  of  captur- 
ing it  without  a  dog ;  for  it  runs  rapidly  through 
tangled  and  matted  grass,  where  you  would 
scarcely  expect  it  to  make  any  headway,  and  it 
can  swim  as  well  under  water  as  on  the  surface. 
It  is  not  uncommon  to  see  them  dive  and  cling 
to  the  bottom  as  long  as  possible,  only  letting 
go  when  half -drowned,  and  then  making  their 
way  to  some  hiding  place  in  the  grass  where 
they  may  put  their  heads  out  in  safety. 

The  rail  is  an  easy  mark  for  the  shooter  be- 
cause of  its  slow  and  steady  flight,  except  when 
traveling  before  a  brisk  breeze,  when,  of  course, 
it  moves  fast  enough.  However,  rail  shooting 
requires  a  bit  more  skill  than  "potting"  swal- 
lows on  a  telegraph  wire,  even  though  it  may 


236  FEATHERED  GAME 

have  less  of  the  nerve-racking  intensity  which 
makes  the  chief  charm  of  a  rough  and  tumble 
with  a  "grizzly.'7 

The  Sora,  the  rail  to  the  great  number  of 
gunners,  is  about  nine  inches  long  and  in  wing- 
spread  about  fourteen  inches.  The  adult  birds, 
both  male  and  female,  are  marked  as  follows: 
upper  parts  a  greenish  brown,  mottled  with 
black;  many  of  the  feathers  having  a  fine  edg- 
ing of  white.  The  bill,  short,  thick  and  stout, 
of  greenish  yellow  color;  a  black  mask  on  the 
face;  cheeks,  throat,  breast  and  under  parts  a 
dull  ashy  blue,  lightening  towards  the  lower 
parts.  Flanks  barred  with  black  and  white,  the 
colors  becoming  more  pronounced  toward  the 
crissum.  The  young  birds  in  the  fall  are  simi- 
larly marked,  but  in  less  decided  colors,  having 
a  reddish  or  buffy  shade  on  the  neck  and  breast, 
and  a  gray  or  whitish  patch  on  the  throat. 
These  have  no  trace  of  the  black  mask  on  the 
face. 

The  Sora  Rail  is  usualty  introduced  to  the 
epicure  in  the  form  of  a  pie,  and  it  is  in  this 
stage  that  it  makes  the  best  showing,  for  its 
flesh  is  tender  and  of  delicate  flavor.    A  rail 


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THE  YELLOW  RAIL  237 

pie  which  is  constructed  of  rails  is  a  most  suc- 
culent morsel,  a  very  different  creation  from  a 
pie  built  from  street-scavenging  English  spar- 
rows, which  is  not  uncommonly  the  material 
used  when  the  flight  of  soras  has  been  small. 


THE  YELLOW  RAIL. 

(Porzana  noveboracensis.) 

This  pretty  little  fellow  is  a  visitor  along  the 
eastern  coast  and  in  some  of  the  inland  marshes 
of  eastern  North  America.  The  range  of  its 
migration  is  extensive,  reaching  from  Hudson 
bay  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  or  even  further  south. 
Nowhere  in  all  this  stretch  of  country  is  it 
abundant,  yet  while  most  naturalists  seem  to 
think  it  a  rare  visitor  in  New  England,  espe- 
cially so  in  the  northern  parts,  there  is  some 
reason  to  believe  that  it  is  more  numerous  here 
than  is  generally  supposed.  Indeed,  from  my 
own  experience  I  should  say  that  it  is  more 
common  here  than  the  Virginia  rail,  for  within 
the  last  three  years  I  have  known  of  the  cap- 
ture of  possibly  fifty  specimens  of  the  Yellow 
Rail  near  Portland,  Me.,  and  have  myself  taken 


238  FEATHERED  GAME 

at  least  half  that  number,  while  of  the  Virginia 
rails  scarcely  twenty  have  been  killed  in  the 
same  time. 

The  Yellow  Rail  seems  to  be  quite  hardy, 
staying  here  after  the  other  species  have  de- 
serted us  and  the  ice  has  made  in  the  pond- 
holes  of  the  marsh.  The  writer  has  shot  them 
when  there  had  been  severe  cold  for  Novem- 
ber and  after  a  snowfall  of  three  or  four  inches. 

He  is  a  beautiful  little  bird, — his  body  color 
a  golden  yellow,  the  feathers  of  his  back  and 
wing  coverts  jet  black  with  yellow  edges,  and 
here  and  there  speckled  with  tiny  white  spots. 
His  breast  is  a  deep  golden  yellow,  growing 
paler  below.  Flanks  and  inside  of  wings 
barred  with  black  and  white.  Crissum  golden 
yellow.  Length  about  six  inches,  extent  ten  or 
thereabout.  This  is  the  smallest  of  the  rails 
ordinarily  found  in  New  England,  though  that 
extremely  rare  straggler  here,  the  black  rail,  is 
even  smaller. 

The  Yellow  Rail  is  a  more  inveterate  skulker 
and,  if  possible,  harder  to  flush  than  any  other 
of  the  family.  Out  of  the  first  six  specimens 
which  the  writer  obtained  five  were  captured 
by  the  dog  and  the  sixth  only  escaped  the  same 


THE  BLACK  RAIL  239 

fate  by  being  shot  almost  off  the  dog's  nose  as 
he  drove  it  up  from  the  ground. 

In  form  and  habits  the  Yellow  Rail  is  very 
similar  to  the  sora,  but  he  dwells  in  the  drier 
levels  of  the  marsh  and  in  the  meadow  lands, 
where  the  shorter  grasses  offer  less  impediment 
to  his  feebler  powers.  His  food  is  principally 
of  seeds,  and  his  flesh  (what  there  is  of  it)  is 
equally  as  good  as  that  of  the  sora. 


THE  BLACK  RAIL. 

(Porzana  jamaicensis.) 

Of  all  the  feathered  dwellers  in  or  visitors  to 
New  England  this  is  the  rarest.  There  are 
very  few  records  of  its  capture  in  our  borders. 
In  fact,  few  are  taken  anywhere  in  the  United 
States,  though  it  may  be  more  common  than  is 
generally  supposed,  since,  because  of  its  small 
size  and  retiring  disposition  it  might  easily  be 
overlooked.  Its  range  lies  mostly  to  the  south- 
ward of  the  United  States.  The  bird  is  more 
common  in  the  West  Indies,  Central  and  South 
America,  where  it  visits  as  far  south  as  Chile. 

In  length  this  little  fellow  is  from  five  and 
one-half  to  six  inches ;  in  extent  about  nine  and 


240  FEATHERED  GAME 

one-half  inches.  Above,  its  body  color  is  a  blu- 
ish black  with  minute  specklings  and  barrings 
of  white.  Below,  dark  slate  color,  a  little 
lighter  on  under  side  of  wings,  belly  and  flanks ; 
under  wing  and  tail  coverts  barred  with  white. 


EUROPEAN  CORN  CRAKE. 

(Crex   crex.) 

Seldom  found  in  this  section,  nor,  in  fact,  in 
America  anywhere,  but  in  this  vicinity  (Port- 
land, Me.)  one,  and  possibly  two  specimens 
have  been  taken.  The  one  saved  was  shot  on 
the  14th  of  October,  1889,  in  the  "Dyke  Marsh" 
in  Falmouth,  Me.,  and  is  now  occupying  a  place 
of  high  honor  in  the  collection  of  my  friend, 
Dr.  Henry  H.  Brock,  of  Portland.  The  speci- 
men was  in  fine  condition  and  in  almost  perfect 
plumage.  Above,  dark  brown  and  black,  mot- 
tled with  lighter  browns  and  yellows ;  the  wing 
coverts  a  deep  reddish  brown, — burnt  sienna  is 
about  the  shade.  Below,  yellowish  and  ashy 
gray,  paler  on  throat  and  belly ;  flanks  and  cris- 
sum  with  dusky  brown  bars;  a  brownish  stripe 
from  the  bill  through  the  eye.  Bill  and  eyes 
brown;  legs  and  feet  pale  yellow.     In  length 


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THE  PURPLE  GALLINULE         241 

some  ten  and  one-half  inches;  extent  about  thir- 
teen inches. 

There  are  perhaps  half  a  dozen  records  of 
the  capture  of  this  species  on  the  North  Amer- 
ican continent. 


THE  PURPLE  GALLINULE. 

(Ionornis  martinica.) 

Another  distinguished  southerner  of  rare  oc- 
currence here.  His  habits,  shape  and  general 
appearance  are  much  the  same  as  those  of  the 
more  common  Florida  Gallinule,  but  his  mark- 
ings are  more  brilliant.  His  head,  neck  and  un- 
der parts  are  a  deep,  purplish  blue,  shading  on 
the  belly  into  black;  sides  and  linings  of  the 
wings  bluish  green.  Crissum  white.  Above, 
an  olive  green  with  a  bluish  cast  on  wing  coverts 
and  neck.  Frontal  shield  blue;  bill  bright  red 
with  yellow  tip.  Legs  yellow.  Length  from  ten 
to  twelve,  extent  about  twenty-two  inches.  A 
most  beautiful  bird  and  sure  to  command  atten- 
tion when  captured. 

Nesting  habits  as  in  the  more  common  spe- 
cies, the  Florida  gallinule.  From  ten  to  a 
dozen  eggs  form  the  complement  for  a  nest. 


242  FEATHERED  GAME 

The  two  species  are  found  over  much  the 
same  territory  though  the  present  one  is  of 
somewhat  more  southern  habitat. 


FLORIDA  GALLINULE. 

(Gallinula  galeata.) 

This  species,  quite  common  in  the  South  At- 
lantic and  Gulf  States,  is  only  occasionally  met 
in  New  England  and  corresponding  latitudes, 
though  specimens  are  rarely  taken  in  the  Mar- 
itime Provinces  of  Canada.  In  northern  New 
England  it  is  one  of  the  least  common  of  the 
marsh  dwellers.  It  is  seldom  that  more  than 
two  are  taken  in  a  season  in  this  section,  most 
years  passing  without  the  capture  of  a  specimen 
being  recorded  in  Maine. 

The  Florida  Gallinule  loves  the  tranquil 
waters — the  still  lagoons  overgrown  with  sedge 
and  grass, — for  there  the  floating  vegetation  of- 
fers the  best  chance  for  obtaining  food.  Much 
preferring  the  fresh  water  ponds  and  streams, 
this  bird  is  rarely  seen  in  the  salt  marshes  and 
then  usually  he  is  some  stray  traveler  on  his 
way  toward  warm  weather.  In  gait  these  birds 
are  much  like  the  domestic  fowl,  bobbing  their 


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FLORIDA  GALLINULE  243 

heads  in  the  same  manner  when  walking. 
They  are  good  runners  and  in  case  of  danger 
have  a  great  talent  at  disappearing;  like  their 
cousins,  the  rails,  they  are  more  prone  to  run 
and  skulk  than  to  fly.  They  are  fairly  good 
swimmers,  as  well,  sitting  lightly  and  easily  on 
the  water,  keeping  up  the  motion  of  their  heads 
and  flirting  their  tails  up  and  down  in  rail 
fashion  as  they  go.  They  are  feeders  upon 
both  animal  and  vegetable  matter,  the  grass 
seeds  and  the  worms  and  snails  of  the  bogs  be- 
ing equally  acceptable  to  them. 

Most  of  their  traveling  is  done  at  night.  It 
is  even  said  that  their  migrations  (must  we  be- 
lieve this?)  are  performed  on  foot — a  sort  of 
feathered  "tramp."  Their  legs  are  stout,  and 
except  that  the  toes  are  long,  slender  and  with- 
out lobes,  as  in  the  rails,  and  that  the  bird  is 
somewhat  smaller,  it  closely  resembles  the 
"coot,"  or  "mud  hen,"  so  well  known  to  duck 
hunters.  The  long  toes  spreading  out  over  a 
comparatively  wide  surface  so  distribute  the 
weight  of  the  bird  that  it  can  run  with  the 
greatest  ease  over  the  broad-leaved  water 
plants  and  matted  floating  grasses. 

In  its  breeding  dress  the  Florida  Gallinule 


244  FEATHERED  GAME 

is  colored  as  follows:  back  brownish  green,  be- 
coming a  dusky  color  on  the  wings  and  tail. 
Edge  of  wing  white,  crissum  white  with  a 
broad  central  patch  of  black  running  through 
it  to  the  end  of  the  tail.  Frontal  plate  red. 
Bill  red  with  yellow  tip.  Iris  red-brown. 
Legs  and  feet  willowy  green,  nails  black.  The 
bird  is  from  twelve  to  fourteen  inches  long,  and 
from  twenty  to  twenty-two  inches  in  extent. 

The  bill  and  frontal  plate  in  all  specimens 
before  mentioned  as  having  been  taken  near 
Portland  lacked  the  bright  colors  of  the  full 
plumaged  bird,  these  being  replaced  by  dusky 
green;  all  fall  specimens. 

The  nests  of  this  species  are  loosely  made  of 
grass  stems  placed  at  the  water's  edge  on  tus- 
socks of  earth  or  even  in  some  half-floating 
drift-stuff.  A  nest  often  contains  as  many  as 
a  dozen  eggs.  The  Gallinule  breeds  anywhere 
in  its  range. 


THE  COOT  245 


THE   COOT.    WHITE-BILLED  MUD-HEN. 
"CROW  DUCK." 

(Fulica  americana.) 

A  common  bird  in  our  marshes,  well  known 
to  the  duck  hunter,  and  remarkable  principally 
for  its  long,  lobed  toes.  This  bird  is  a  sort  of 
connecting  link, — an  intermediate  family  be- 
tween the  gallinules  and  the  waterfowl  proper. 
It  closely  resembles  the  gallinules  save  that  its 
feet  are  furnished  with  wide  lobes  on  the  toes, 
much  like  the  feet  of  a  grebe,  while  the  gallinule 
has  the  long,  slender  toes  of  the  rail  family. 

The  Coot  is  most  common  in  the  fresh  water 
ponds  and  lakes,  avoiding  the  rivers  and  ap- 
pearing only  casually  in  the  sea  marshes, 
plainly  preferring  the  still  waters  and  stagnant 
fens  where  there  is  an  abundance  of  water  in- 
sects and  vegetable  matter.  They  swim  well 
and  dive  as  deftly  as  any  duck.  The  writer  has 
met  them  several  times  swimming  in  a  broad 
arm  of  the  sea,  almost  the  open  ocean. 

The  Coot  arrives  in  our  latitude  about  the 
middle  of  April  and  goes  about  its  nesting  at 
once,  sometimes  raising  two  broods  in  a  sea- 


246  FEATHERED  GAME 

son.  From  eight  to  twelve  eggs  are  laid  in  a 
nest  fashioned  after  the  same  classic  architec- 
ture as  the  rail's, — often,  as  in  the  gallinules, 
on  the  anchored  floating  stuff  of  the  ponds. 
The  period  of  incubation  is  about  three  weeks. 
The  young  birds  are  very  active,  taking  to  the 
water  about  as  soon  as  they  are  hatched  and  are 
at  once  able  to  take  care  of  themselves.  At 
this  time  they  are  covered  with  a  thick,  black 
down,  and  present  a  striking  likeness  to  the  do- 
mestic chicken  at  the  same  stage  of  develop- 
ment. The  bill,  white  and  showing  the  spot  on 
each  mandible  as  in  the  adult,  is  even  more  con- 
spicuous than  in  the  older  birds. 

These  birds  as  a  rule  have  less  success  than 
the  rails  in  raising  their  families,  as  they  are 
oftener  in  the  open  water  in  plain  view  of  the 
hawks  and  other  persecutors  in  fur  and  feath- 
ers. 

The  Mud-hen  looks  like  an  overgrown  rail 
and  has  many  of  the  rail's  peculiarities;  also 
its  dislike  of  flying,  though  not  in  so  marked 
a  degree.  It  has,  too,  the  same  labored,  lum- 
bering flight,  rising  as  heavily  and  flying  as 
slowly.  If  forced  to  rise  from  the  water  it 
splashes  and  spatters  along  for  some  distance, 


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THE  COOT  247 

half  flying,  half  running,  as  do  some  of  the 
heavier  and  clumsier  sea-fowl. 

This  bird  gets  much  of  its  food  by  diving  and 
swims  well  under  water,  using  its  wings  in  con- 
junction with  its  long,  lobed  feet,  which  are  a 
most  serviceable  pair  of  paddles. 

In  summer  the  separate  families  keep  by 
themselves,  but  when  in  the  fall  the  young  are 
fully  fledged  and  ready  for  business  flocks  of 
considerable  size  are  formed  preparatory  to 
migrating.  Our  sportsmen  seldom  trouble  the 
Coots  in  ponds  where  much  duck  shooting  is 
done  from  blinds,  since  their  flocks  often 
serve  to  decoy  passing  birds,  which,  seeing 
the  Coots  swimming  unconcernedly  about,  alight 
near  them,  taking  it  for  granted  that  all  is  safe 
because  of  their  presence.  Perhaps,  too,  the 
quality  of  their  flesh  may  account  in  part  for 
their  immunity  from  pursuit  and  the  semi-pro- 
tection afforded  them,  though  the  bird  is  a 
cleanly  feeder  and  lives  for  the  most  part  on 
vegetable  food. 

The  general  tone  of  the  Coot's  plumage  is  a 
dark  slate  color,  growing  lighter  and  grayer 
below,  darkening  on  the  head  and  neck.  Dusky 
greenish  on  the   back;   tail   blackish;   crissum 


248  FEATHERED  GAME 

white,  also  the  edge  of  the  wing.  The  under 
parts  are  covered  with  a  thick  coat  of  black 
down  beneath  the  feathers  as  in  the  ducks. 
The  bill  is  whitish,  marked  at  the  end  by  a 
dull,  reddish  patch.  Frontal  shield  chestnut. 
Legs  and  feet  greenish.  Iris  bright  red. 
Length  from  fourteen  to  sixteen  inches;  extent 
from  twenty-three  to  twenty-six  inches. 

THE  GREATER  SNOW  GOOSE. 

(Chen  hyperborea  nivalis.) 

This  species  is  one  of  general  distribution  in 
North  America,  though  in  comparison  with  the 
numbers  found  in  the  West  the  Snow  Goose  is 
of  rare  occurrence  in  New  England,  and  here, 
as  in  the  rest  of  the  Atlantic  States,  it  is  entirely 
maritime.  These  birds  breed  in  the  far  north, 
mostly  on  the  Arctic  shores  of  the  continent  and 
on  the  almost  unknown  islands  beyond,  and  their 
only  visits  to  New  England  are  made  during 
the  migrations.  Even  then  they  stay  scarcely 
longer  than  is  necessary  to  rest  and  lay  in  a 
stock  of  provisions  for  another  flight.  They  ar- 
rive on  their  journeying  to  the  north  a  few  days 
later  than  does  the  Canada  goose  and  commence 


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THE  GREATER  SNOW  GOOSE     249 

their  southern  movements  before  the  larger  spe- 
cies. 

Few  New  England  gunners  have  any  per- 
sonal acquaintance  with  this  bird,  but  in  the 
West,  on  the  plains,  in  the  marshes  and  along 
the  Pacific  coast  they  are  very  abundant  during 
the  flight  seasons.  Their  large  flocks  seen  at 
a  distance  on  the  brown  grass  look  like  the  re- 
mains of  some  great  snow  drift  not  yet  con- 
quered by  the  sun.  In  its  eastern  habitat  it 
passes  the  winter  months  in  the  South  Atlantic 
and  Gulf  States,  and  on  its  western  range  it 
winters  in  Texas  and  on  the  coast  of  Southern 
California  in  great  numbers.  On  the  Atlantic 
coast  line  they  become  much  more  abundant 
southward,  where  practically  all  the  Snow 
Goose  population  of  the  eastern  half  of  the  con- 
tinent congregates  for  the  cold  weather. 

Its  plumage  is  very  striking — for  the  most 
part  of  snowy  whiteness,  with  a  speckling  of 
rusty  brown  on  the  head,  darkest  at  the  base  of 
the  bill  and  gradually  fading  into  the  white  of 
the  neck.  Primaries  blackish ;  eyes  brown ;  feet 
dull  purplish  red  with  black  nails.  The  bill 
very  stout,  deep  and  rather  narrow,  pale  pur- 
plish  with   white   nail.     In   weight   the    Snow 


250  FEATHERED  GAME 

Goose  varies  from  six  to  eight  pounds,  thus  not 
so  large  as  the  Canada.  The  length  of  this  spe- 
cies is  between  twenty-eight  and  thirty  inches, 
with  a  wingspread  of  from  fifty-eight  to  sixty- 
two  inches. 

There  are  two  other  species  of  Snow  Geese 
in  North  America,  both  inhabiting  the  western 
half  of  the  continent, — the  Lesser  Snow  Goose 
(Chen  hyperborea),  a  race  which  probably  in- 
tergrades  with  the  present  species,  breeding 
in  Arctic  America  and  Alaska  and  in  winter 
coming  south  to  the  central  plains,  or  on  the 
coast  to  southern  California, — and  Ross'  Snow 
Goose  (Chen  rossii),  the  smallest  of  North 
American  geese,  mainly  a  maritime  race,  breed- 
ing far  away  in  the  north,  and  often  associat- 
ing with  the  Lesser  Snow  Goose,  from  which  it 
may  be  distinguished  by  the  wart-like  growth 
at  the  base  of  the  upper  mandible.  This  spe- 
cies has  much  the  same  range  as  its  relative  just 
named,  though,  as  mentioned,  Ross'  Goose  is 
more  often  taken  on  the  coast.  Neither  of 
these  small  geese  are  taken  on  the  Atlantic 
coast.  None  of  these  birds  are  much  given  to 
coming  to  decoys. 


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THE  WHITE-FRONTED  GOOSE    251 


THE  WHITE-FRONTED  GOOSE. 

(Anser  albifrons  gambeli.) 

A  rare  bird  all  along  the  coast  line  of  New 
England,  and  in  fact,  on  the  entire  Atlantic 
coast,  of  more  frequent  occurrence  in  the  West, 
especially  on  the  Pacific  coast  in  winter.  This 
species  breeds  only  in  the  far  north,  all  across 
the  American  continent,  perhaps  more  abund- 
antly on  the  northwestern  ranges. 

The  sexes  are  identical  in  markings,  which 
are  as  follows:  head  and  neck  brownish;  a 
white  patch  around  the  base  of  upper  mandible, 
with  a  blackish  margin  behind  it.  Above  dusky 
gray;  below  whitish,  smirched  on  the  breast 
with  black  of  varying  extent  and  depth  of  color, 
from  which  marking  they  are  sometimes  called 
"Speckle-bellies,"  a  most  classical  appellation. 
The  crissum,  upper  tail  coverts  and  sides  of 
the  rump  are  white.  Bill  pale  pink  with  white 
nail.  The  young  of  this  species  is  somewhat 
different:  a  darker  bird,  lacking  the  white  on 
the  head  and  having  no  black  below.  The 
length  of  this  species  is  from  twenty-three  to 
twenty-five  inches,   extent   from   fifty-eight   to 


252  FEATHERED  GAME 

sixty  inches.  Its  habits  are  very  nearly  iden- 
tical with  those  of  the  better  known  Canada 
goose,  flying  in  the  characteristic  V-shaped 
flocks  and  ranking  about  equal  with  that  species 
in  table  qualities. 

This  goose  is  represented  in  the  Old  World 
by  a  species  so  close  to  our  own  race  that  it  is 
doubtful  if  even  an  expert  could  with  certainty 
distinguish  between  them.  Apparently  the  dif- 
ference is  entirely  one  of  size,  our  own  species 
having  a  trifling  advantage  in  this. 


THE  CANADA  GOOSE. 

(Branta  canadensis.) 

What  is  the  first  harbinger  of  spring? 
Surely  the  long  files  of  the  geese  threading  their 
airy  pathway  are  the  surest  signs  that  grim  old 
winter  has  begun  to  relax  his  grip  upon  the 
earth.  The  boldest  mayflower — the  pluckiest 
grassblades  are  not  yet  reckless  enough  to  push 
their  tiny  heads  above  the  mud  and  ice  which 
make  up  the  desolation  called  early  spring  in 
New  England.  These  merely  listen  to  their 
herald's  trumpet  note — then  wisely  turn  over 
for  another  nap.     But  never  a  whit  cares  the 


THE  CANADA  GOOSE  253 

good  gray  Goose,  for,  high  up,  safe  from  all 
harm  from  human  foe,  their  swift-moving 
wedges  keep  steadily  northward  over  city  and 
farmland,  forest,  lake,  plain  and  open  sea. 
Anon  comes  down  the  distant  clamor  of  the 
flock — the  wily  old  leader  as  he  calls  to  the  lag- 
gards, perhaps  encouraging  them  with  the 
praises  of  the  region  whither  they  are  bound, 
that  the  weary  followers  may  keep  up  good 
heart,  for  there  are  some  who  fain  would  rest 
their  wings  and  make  a  brief  halt  on  the  water 
below.  But  not  so  the  old  gander.  He  remem- 
bers vividly  the  dangers  of  that  treacherous 
place,  for  not  yet  has  the  calamity  of  last  fall's 
flight  passed  from  his  memory, — when  the  tired 
youngsters  were  allowed  to  settle  upon  its 
waters  for  rest.  He  knows  full  well  what  was 
their  rest! 

Far  below  in  city  street  or  muddy  country 
road  the  sportsman  stands  up-gazing  and  fol- 
lowing them  with  longing  eyes  until  the  last 
faint  "honk"  has  died  away  and  the  flock  has 
become  but  a  speck  against  the  dark  mass  of 
the  northern  cloud-bank.  For  the  rest  of  the 
day  that  man's  mind  is  scarcely  to  be  kept  on 
the  ledger  or  the  farm's  business,  and  ten  to 


254  FEATHERED  GAME 

one,  when  he  goes  home  the  tried  companion  of 
a  hundred  pleasant  shooting  trips  comes  out 
from  its  dusty  case,  is  tenderly  balanced  in  his 
hands,  thrown  to  his  shoulder  and  aimed  at  an 
imaginary  goose,  then  carefully  inspected  and 
thoroughly  cleaned,  though  there  is  no  need  of 
it,  and  at  last  reluctantly  put  away  again.  Per- 
haps the  poor  fellow  cannot  break  away  from 
his  toil,  but  he  will  think  and  plan  for  the  fu- 
ture and  in  his  dreams  live  over  again  his 
merry  days  by  field  and  marsh  or  on  blue  wa- 
ters. Mayhap  he  hears  the  ripples  chuckling 
under  the  bows  of  his  float  with  a  merry  spring- 
time melody  as  he  forces  his  small  craft  over  the 
gentle  swells  in  pursuit  of  some  unsuspecting 
flock.  Will  he  score  one  of  them  ?  Of  course ! 
For  there  are  no  "blank  days"  in  the  "happy 
hunting  grounds"  of  our  dreams,  and  so  he  is 
happier  for  the  mere  sight  of  that  flying  phalanx 
of  "honkers,"  and  the  memories  which  they  re- 
call of  deeds  performed  at  crack  o'  day  with 
sculling  oar  and  goose  gun. 

Far  away  in  the  lagoons  of  the  south  the  win- 
ter months  have  been  spent,  and  now  a  few 
days,  genial  and  bright  with  the  promise  of 
spring,  have  filled  the  old  gander's  whole  being 


THE  CANADA  GOOSE  255 

with  a  vague  unrest.  He  mopes  and  is  silent; 
anon  he  stirs  the  whole  flock  with  his  noisy  clat- 
ter, and  soon  with  a  cry  like  a  trumpet  call  he 
spreads  his  brown  wings  for  the  north  and  the 
safety  of  its  frozen  marshes.  Every  goose 
within  hearing  joins  him  and  away  they  go ;  by 
day  and  by  night  in  a  well  nigh  unending  flight 
he  leads  his  followers  to  those  Arctic  shores. 

When  the  wearied  column  comes  down  to  rest 
on  the  water,  tired  enough  and  loth  to  fly,  the 
gunner  may  ' '  scull ' '  them  if  he  has  skill  in  the 
handling  of  a  "gunning  float"  and  is  blessed 
with  a  strong  wrist.  It  is  less  tiresome  to  do 
your  "sculling"  by  proxy,  however;  therefore, 
if  you  have  some  good-natured  gunner  friend, 
the  possessor  of  a  double  "float,"  it  is  good 
judgment  to  cultivate  his  acquaintance  at  this 
season  of  the  year.  The  deep  ones  among  our 
duck  and  goose  shooters  are  very  polite  to  all 
the  steamboat  skippers  during  the  migratory 
flights  of  the  geese,  and  a  mysterious  wink  from 
one  of  these  brass-buttoned  people  will  catch 
the  bay  gunners'  attention  quicker  than  a  kick 
from  another  man.  "We  passed  a  big  flock  of 
geese  down  off  the  no'theast  p'int  of  Clabbo'rd 
Island  on  the  way  up.     Tom  says  to  come  down 


256  FEATHERED  GAME 

just  as  soon  as  you  can  get  there,"  says  one  of 
these  in  a  confidential  tone,  and  off  you  go  to 
get  gun  and  shells  ready  for  a  trip  down  the 
bay.  As  fast  as  your  horse  can  take  you  you 
go  to  your  friend's  home  by  the  sea.  It  is  a 
long  six  miles  through  the  deep  and  clinging 
mud — a  longer  six  miles  to-day  than  ever,  you 
think — but  you  arrive  at  last,  your  poor  nag 
steaming  from  his  jog.  Your  friend  is  impa- 
tiently waiting,  pacing  his  porch,  spyglass  in 
hand,  his  attention  divided  between  yourself 
and  that  long  black  line  a  mile-and-a-half  away 
upon  the  water.  He  evidently  expected  you. 
' '  Huh !  Here,  are  you !  How  long  does  it  take 
that  plug  of  yours  to  travel  six  miles  of  good 
roads?  I  thought  you  were  never  coming!" 
Even  as  he  speaks  and,  grinning  welcome, 
grasps  your  hand,  with  his  other  paw,  glass  and 
all,  he  points  away  to  where  the  unsuspecting 
birds  are  riding  at  ease.  You  seize  the  'scope 
the  while  he  complains  at  such  delay,  to  feast 
your  eyes  upon  that  ravishing  sight.  A  dozen 
at  least!  Yes,  twenty  big  "honkers"  resting 
and  pruning  their  feathers  in  a  security  which 
you  intend  shall  be  brief.  Your  horse  is  soon 
cared  for,  then, — ' '  Come,  now,  how  long  are  you 


THE  CANADA  GOOSE  257 

going  to  stare?  Everything  is  ready.  Let's 
move!"  A  hurried  gathering  of  war  material 
and  you  make  for  the  shore  where  waits  the 
float.  With  a  piece  of  ice  on  her  long,  low  bow 
and  a  rim  of  snow  along  her  gunwales  your 
craft,  showing  not  more  than  six  or  eight  inches 
above  water,  is  hardly  to  be  told  from  an  ice- 
cake  at  fifty  yards  distance.  You  take  the  oars 
and  drive  the  boat  over  the  waves,  perhaps  with 
a  touch  of  selfish  joy  that  there  is  no  other  craft 
in  sight.  A  mile  away  from  the  geese  your 
friend  says, ' '  Now,  pull  in  your  oars  and  let  me 
scull.  I  don't  dare  risk  rowing  any  further." 
So  you  settle  yourself  down  contentedly  to  let 
this  willing  worker  toil  for  you.  Down  you 
go,  laying  your  lazy  length  in  the  bottom  of  the 
float,  with  not  even  the  tip  of  your  nose  to  show 
above  the  gunwale,  your  head  upon  your  com- 
rade's knees,  and  as  the  spring  sunshine  plays 
upon  your  face  you  think  goose-shooting  is  not 
such  hard  work  after  all.  Your  spirit  is  lulled 
into  a  deep  content  and  restfulness  by  the  mo- 
notonous, muffled  "bump-hump — frwmp-bump" 
of  the  sculling  oar,  and  even  the  muttered  curse 
of  your  companion,  whose  wrist  begins  to  tire, 
is  not  altogether  able  to  dispel  your  happiness. 


258  FEATHERED  GAME 

Steadily  and  cautiously  the  dangerous  little 
craft  has  pushed  its  careful  way  among  the 
drifting  ice  cakes  and  has  nearly  gained  a  dis- 
tance whence  the  shot  may  be  sent  into  the 
flock  as  yet  unnoting  our  approach,  when  sud- 
denly the  old  gander  stretches  up  his  neck  and 
nervously  calling  to  his  command  sets  them  all 
in  motion  and  they  paddle  swiftly  away.  If 
they  are  not  pursued  too  closely  as  a  rule  they 
think  they  can  outrun  their  enemy,  if  enemy  it 
is,  and  becoming  less  cautious,  do  not  so  easily 
take  alarm  next  time.  Therefore  the  man  at 
the  scull  oar  slows  up — only  giving  a  few  turns 
of  his  wrist  to  keep  the  float's  steerage  way. 
Bye  and  bye,  after  a  half  hour  of  laborious 
manoeuvring  you  are  almost  near  enough  to 
shoot.  Stealthily  the  double  float  slips  along — 
just  the  top  of  the  sculler's  white  cap  and  one 
eye  showing  above  the  low  gunwale,  the  only 
signs  of  the  pirate  crew  within.  Look  out,  old 
gander!     Here's  trouble  for  you! 

Perhaps  our  amateur  goose-hunter  is  not  be- 
ginning to  be  a  little  nervous.  The  only  sounds 
you  hear  are  the  low  murmur  of  the  ripples  be- 
neath the  bows,  the  gride  of  small  ice  cakes 
alongside,  and  the  muffled  monotone  of  the  scull- 


THE  CANADA  GOOSE  259 

ing  oar,  fainter  than  ever  from  our  pilot's 
greater  care  as  he  moves  it  to  and  fro.  Flat 
on  your  back  you  lie  with  your  face  turned  sky- 
ward and  wonder  if  the  geese  can't  hear  your 
heart,  throbbing,  as  it  seems  to  you,  like  an 
engine.  You  can  bear  it  no  longer.  "How 
far?"  you  ask.  "Keep  still!  About  a  hun- 
dred yards,"  the  answer  comes  back  in  a  sub- 
dued whisper,  and  again  your  pulses  renew 
their  dance.  "They're  swimming  again. 
Confound  that  gander!"  (Let  us  change  a 
word  here  for  good  reasons;  the  remark  need 
not  be  rendered  literally,  but  the  toiler  is 
scarcely  to  blame  for  a  trifle  of  impatience.) 
"He's  been  over  the  route  before."  A  mo- 
ment later — "We're  gaining  a  bit  again.  If 
my  wrist  holds  out  and  we  can  get  twenty  yards 
nearer  we  can  chance  it.  When  I  touch  you  sit 
up  and  take  the  three  together  on  the  left — 
the  left,  mind  you.  I  will  take  care  of  those  on 
the  right."  Again  only  the  gentle  motion  of 
the  boat  and  you  could  never  tell  that  you  were 
moving,  for  every  landmark  is  hidden, — only  a 
white  gull  far-wheeling  in  the  blue  and  change- 
less expanse  above  to  look  at.  The  warm  sun 
shines  down  into  your  face ;  you  close  your  eyes 


260  FEATHERED  GAME 

as  if  for  a  quiet  nap,  but  come  out  of  your 
trance  very  suddenly — the  result  of  a  vigorous 
kick.  "Quick,  now!  Wake  up  here!"  ex- 
claims the  man  at  the  scull-oar.  "The  left!" 
and  up  you  get  and  bring  your  gun  to  bear  on 
a  big  gray  bird  rising  out  of  the  water  seventy 
yards  away,  the  first  one  that  catches  your  eye, 
then  see  another  about  forty  yards  distant  and 
change  to  him.  Meanwhile  your  companion, 
who  has  been  watching  them  and  has  had  his 
birds  all  selected,  gets  in  his  two  barrels — so 
near  your  head  that  the  concussion  of  his  eight- 
bore  well  nigh  splits  your  ear  drum — before 
you  are  fairly  ready  to  shoot.  But  you  add 
your  contribution  to  the  general  uproar  and  see 
your  second  barrel  double  up  a  big  goose,  which 
falls  into  the  water  like  a  ton  of  coal.  "Dead, 
for  a  ducat ! ' '  (If  it  was  not  the  one  you  meant 
there  is  no  one  to  know  it  except  yourself  and 
you  think  that  you  can  keep  a  secret.)  Your 
first  charge  was  not  properly  placed,  a  lurch  of 
the  float  as  your  companion  swung  having 
thrown  you  off,  but  Tom's  former  experience 
and  longer  training  have  shown  their  fruits  in 
his  gathering  two  with  his  first,  where  three 
necks  stood  in  line,  and  one  with  the  second  bar- 


O 

o 
o 

< 
Q 
< 
z 

< 


THE  CANADA  GOOSE  261 

rel.  Away  goes  the  flock  with  noisy  honkings, 
long  necks  outstretched  and  every  nerve  strain- 
ing to  get  out  of  range.  Away,  weary  as  they 
are,  spurred  to  yet  greater  endeavors  by  two 
more  hasty  shots  from  your  comrade,  and  hur- 
rying on  until  only  the  sharpest  of  eyes  can 
mark  them  down  in  the  shadow  of  a  distant 
island.  Your  companion  resumes  his  sculling 
oar  and  pushes  the  float  up  to  a  crippled  goose 
which  is  getting  into  shape  for  another  trial  at 
escape.  Another  shot  collapses  him.  You 
drag  your  trophies  into  the  boat — only  a  feeble 
shiver  of  wings  by  way  of  remonstrance.  Are 
you  proud  of  your  prize?  You  are  no  true  man 
if  not.  How  large  does  he  look  to  your  de- 
lighted eyes  as  he  lies  in  the  bottom  of  the  float? 
Though  your  companion's  birds  are  all  larger 
than  your  own  you  will  never  admit  it  and  have 
no  eyes  for  any  but  the  goose  you  have  killed 
"all  by  }7ourself." 

The  birds  are  weary  and  will  not  go  out  of 
the  bay,  but  there  goes  another  float  after  them 
and  as  it  is  nearer  to  the  flock  than  is  your  own 
craft  you  decide  to  wait  here  a  while.  They 
may  come  this  way  next  time  they  fly,  when  you 
can  try  it  again.     If  they  don't  come  back  you 


262  FEATHERED  GAME 

have  reason  to  be  satisfied  still  and  have  had 
your  share.  Though  you  have  not  killed  your 
forty  or  fifty  geese,  as  they  tell  it  in  the  West, 
you  are  satisfied.  I  have  noticed  that  the  New 
England  gunner  generally  has  to  be  satisfied 
with  smaller  game  returns  than  his  western 
brother  receives  for  his  efforts. 

I  remember  once  coming  upon  a  small  flock 
in  their  northward  flight.  They  had  just  ar- 
rived from  the  south  and  were  sorely  tired. 
In  the  marsh  where  they  had  settled,  the  win- 
ter's ice  had  swept  away  every  vestige  of  cover 
and  not  a  stalk  of  the  last  season's  rank-grow- 
ing grass  remained,  save  in  a  few  spots  well 
above  high  water  mark,  where  some  scanty 
brush  and  a  thin  fringe  of  salt  hay  was  left 
standing  after  winter's  work.  At  my  approach 
thus  unprotected  the  flock  at  once  took  wing 
and  scaled  away  long  before  I  could  get  within 
gun-shot.  An  hour  passed,  and  chancing  to 
look  in  the  direction  in  which  they  had  gone  I 
saw  the  whole  flock  returning  and  about  a  mile 
away.  Nearer  and  nearer  they  came  and  I  at 
once  hunted  cover  where  there  was  none  in  the 
flat  stretch  of  mud  and  water.  Five  hundred 
yards — four  hundred — three  hundred — and  in 


THE  CANADA  GOOSE  263 

the  mire  I  crouched  in  a  motionless  heap  with 
my  hat  full  of  shells  loaded  with  BB  and  buck- 
shot lying  beside  me,  and  in  my  mind  already 
I  owned  the  whole  flock.  One  hundred  and 
fifty  yards  away,  and  at  a  single  warning  note 
from  the  leader  they  turned  aside  and  swung 
slowly  past  just  out  of  reach.  With  necks  out- 
stretched and  wings  set,  they  drifted  down  to 
the  water  and  alighted  just  at  a  safe  distance. 
Here  and  there  tussocks  of  black  mud  rose  from 
the  slimy  shallows,  and  taking  his  station  on 
one  of  these  the  old  file  leader  stood  sentinel 
while  the  others,  scattered  over  the  surrounding 
surface,  were  soon  contentedly  feeding.  Pre- 
sently the  gander's  appetite  began  to  urge  its 
claims  upon  him,  and  giving  an  impatient  call 
he  was  speedily  relieved,  the  nearest  goose 
clambering  upon  his  point  of  observation  even 
while  he  was  leaving.  No  quarreling,  but  with 
ready  obedience  the  guard  duty  was  done,  each 
knowing  that  his  neighbor  would  cheerfully 
perform  his  part.  While  the  gander  was  get- 
ting his  bite,  and  during  the  hour's  time  which 
I  spent  hoping  they  might  feed  in  shore  and  so 
give  me  my  chance,  fully  half  a  dozen  birds  took 
their  turn  at  watching  while  all  the  rest  were 


264  FEATHERED  GAME 

filling  up  as  though  they  thought  that  the  next 
station  was  to  be  Labrador,  and  no  "five  min- 
utes for  refreshments"  by  the  way.  The  ease 
and  grace  of  their  movements  were  a  matter  of 
great  surprise  to  me,  and  it  can  never  be  truth- 
fully said  that  the  Goose  is  either  clumsy  or 
stupid.  But  luck  was  against  me ;  the  tide  was 
falling,  food  was  abundant  where  they  had"  set- 
tled and  they  came  no  nearer.  At  last  an 
alarming  cry  from  the  watchful  bird  on  duty 
and  again  the  flock  took  wing  and  flew  away.  I 
looked  about  for  the  cause  of  their  departure 
and  saw  coming  down  the  marsh  half-a-mile 
off  two  gunners,  whose  movements  had  caused 
my  feathered  friends  to  leave  thus  uncere- 
moniously. So  I  had  wasted  a  full  hour  in  try- 
ing to  get  within  distance — and  yet  perhaps  not 
wasted,  for  to  my  mind  no  time  should  be  con- 
sidered wasted  when  spent  in  the  good  company 
of  the  brave  gray  Goose. 

The  general  impression  outside  the  circle  of 
the  shooting  fraternity  seems  to  be  that  the 
Goose  is  a  big,  clumsy  bungler — a  most  thick- 
skulled,  slow-witted  bird,  but  no  sportsman  who 
is  at  all  acquainted  with  him  will  ever  pass  such 
a  judgment.     Seen  moving  on  the  water  in  their 


THE  CANADA  GOOSE  265 

times  of  peace  they  are  nearly  as  graceful  as 
the  swan.  As  to  their  intellect — let  their  de- 
tractors try  to  get  within  killing  distance  and 
see  for  themselves  who  is  the  smarter. 

Many  are  shot  from  blinds  in  the  fresh  water 
ponds  with  live  decoys  anchored  along  the 
shores, — some  old  wing-tipped  veterans  whose 
wounds  have  been  cured  and  the  birds  more 
than  half  domesticated  for  this  purpose.  They 
take  very  kindly  to  civilised  ways  and  tame  in 
a  wonderfully  short  time.  After  a  week  of  cap- 
tivity the  wildest  goose  will  become  so  tame 
that  it  will  almost  have  to  be  kicked  from  under 
foot  in  the  yards.  When  left  to  their  own  de- 
vices and  not  too  much  assisted  in  their  house- 
keeping affairs  they  breed  readily  in  their  new 
surroundings.  Most  of  the  decoys  for  the 
shooting  are  thus  obtained.  Very  rarely  a  bird 
tamed  to  the  semi-domestic  state  is  influenced 
by  the  migratory  instinct  to  depart  with  its 
wild  kindred.  But  perhaps  more  would  be  lost 
from  this  cause  if  they  were  not  in  most  cases 
''pinioned." 

Not  a  goose  can  fly  over  the  horizon  that 
these  decoys  do  not  see,  and  the  gander  will  try 
his  most  alluring  arts  and  most  enticing  music 


266  FEATHERED  GAME 

for  their  undoing.  Few  are  the  hungry  trav- 
elers that  do  not  come  in  for  rest  and  food  at 
his  invitation.  Many  shooting  clubs  have  large 
flocks  of  decoys  and  elaborate  methods  of  hand- 
ling them,  letting  bird  after  bird  free  from  their 
hidden  pens  to  rush  to  the  water  when  a  flock 
of  visitors  are  wavering  in  their  minds  as  to 
coming  in.  The  decoys  rarely  fail  to  bring 
their  wild  brethren  into  trouble  at  last,  and,  like 
humanity,  the  geese  thus  trained  seem  to  enjoy 
their  mean  trade. 

The  full  grown  Canada  Goose  is  a  most 
worthy  bird:  the  largest  return  for  his  powder 
and  shot  that  comes  to  the  average  sportsman. 
A  Goose  of  ordinary  size  will  weigh  eight 
pounds,  and  occasionally  old  ''honkers"  are 
brought  to  bag  which  will  tip  the  scales  at 
twelve  or  fourteen  pounds.  Nor  is  the  bold  fel- 
low to  be  despised  at  the  table,  for  his  flesh  is 
of  good  flavor,  and  unless  the  subject  is  too 
long  experienced  in  the  ways  of  the  world,  the 
meat  is  nice  and  tender.  Surely  they  are  as 
good  for  all  ordinary  purposes  as  any  of  the 
breeds  now  found  in  the  farmer's  barnyard, 
and  the  wonder  is  that  more  have  not  been  do- 
mesticated. 


THE  CANADA  GOOSE  267 

The  whole  continent  of  North  America  is  the 
home  of  the  Canada  Goose.  It  breeds  in  any 
suitable  place  from  the  Middle  States  north- 
ward to  the  islands  of  the  Arctic  seas,  but  the 
greater  number  build  their  nests  in  the  Sas- 
katchewan country  and  thence  north  to  the  limit 
of  the  Canadian  forests.  The  interior  of  Lab- 
rador, too,  has  its  breeding  myriads,  where  one 
friend  tells  me,  "I  have  seen  all  the  Geese  in 
the  world  in  one  flock!"  Among  New  Eng- 
land's more  remote  and  unfrequented  lakes, 
particularly  those  among  the  Maine  woods,  this 
Goose  occasionally  raises  its  family.  Nests  are 
usually  upon  the  ground,  though  there  have 
been  instances  where  they  have  built  in  trees, 
taking  possession  of  deserted  nests  of  hawks 
or  other  large  birds,  and  presumably  have 
transported  their  clumsy  babies  to  the  water  in 
their  beaks,  after  the  manner  of  the  wood  duck. 
The  complement  of  eggs  varies  from  five  to 
eight,  usually  the  smaller  number,  grayish 
green  in  color,  and  about  three  and  one-half 
inches  long. 

This  species  is  the  most  common  and  widely 
dispersed  of  our  geese,  and  a  fine  looking  fellow 
is  the  gander  in  his  spring  suit,  despite  the 


268  FEATHERED  GAME 

fact  that  there  is  no  gaudy  color  in  his  raiment. 
His  head  and  neck  are  jet  black,  with  a  broad 
half-encircling  band  of  white  from  beneath  the 
throat  and  chin  running  up  on  each  cheek  just 
behind  the  eye,  and  usually  a  touch  of  white  on 
his  eyelids.  The  upper  parts  are  grayish 
brown  shading  off  from  the  black  of  the  lower 
neck  with  each  feather  a  trifle  lighter  on  its 
edges.  The  rump  black;  the  upper  tail  coverts 
snowy  white,  standing  out  in  beautiful  contrast 
between  the  rump  and  the  tail  feathers,  which 
are  also  jet  black.  Below,  the  same  color  as 
above,  but  of  lighter  shade,  the  gray  breast 
growing  lighter  still  toward  the  lower  parts,  the 
crissum  being  pure  white.  The  iris  is  brown; 
bill  and  feet  black.  His  length  is  from  thirty- 
six  to  thirty-nine  inches,  and  the  spread  of  his 
wings  may  exceed  five  feet.  The  female  is 
marked  like  the  male,  and  save  for  a  somewhat 
brownish  tone  in  the  blacks  she  is  exactly  simi- 
lar to  her  mate. 


HUTCH1NS'  GOOSE  269 


HUTCHINS'  GOOSE. 

(Branta  canadensis  hutchinsii.) 

This  is  a  smaller  variety  of  the  common  spe- 
cies, more  numerous  to  the  westward  than  in 
our  section,  though  I  believe  by  no  means  un- 
common in  our  own  territory.  The  habits  and 
mode  of  life  of  this  bird  are  in  every  respect 
identical  with  the  typical  bird  and  all  that  may 
be  said  of  one  will  apply  with  equal  correctness 
to  the  other.  The  main  distinction  between  the 
two  lies  in  the  smaller  size  and  usually  darker 
color  of  this  variety,  and  in  the  fact  that  it  has 
but  from  fourteen  to  sixteen  feathers  in  the 
tail,  while  the  common  goose  is  supplied  with 
eighteen  or  twenty.  Length,  wingspread  and 
all  measurements  average  considerably  smaller 
than  in  the  common  Canada  Goose. 

The  scientific  standing  of  this  variety  was  for 
some  time  considered  doubtful,  though  it  is  now 
conceded  to  rank  as  a  subspecies. 

The  bay  gunners  of  eastern  New  England 
waters  distinguish  between  two  races  of  Can- 
adas,  the  "long-necked  geese"  and  the  "short- 
necked  geese,"  the  latter  coming  north,  as  a 


270  FEATHERED  GAME 

rule,  somewhat  later  and  returning  ahead 
of  the  first  named.  Not  that  the  two  do  not 
travel  together,  but  the  later  arrivals  in  the 
spring  and  the  first  comers  in  the  fall  are  said 
to  average  a  larger  percentage  of  "short- 
necked  geese."  This  spring  I  have  had  four 
of  these  so-called  '"short-necked  geese,"  of 
which  one  was  doubtful  and  three  undoubtedly 
of  the  present  sub-species.  If  this  average  will 
hold  it  will  show  Hutchins'  Goose  to  be  far 
from  uncommon  here. 


THE  COMMON  BRANT. 

(Branta  bernicla  glaucogastra.) 

These  birds  breed  all  through  the  northern 
part  of  the  continent  and  the  islands  north  of 
it,  as  well  as  all  along  the  west  coast  of  Green- 
land, and  are  reasonably  abundant  on  our 
coasts  during  the  migrations.  Perhaps  we 
should  say  unreasonably  abundant  considering 
the  numbers  annually  slaughtered  from  sink 
boxes  and  over  decoys  a  little  farther  south  of 
us,  and  mostly  in  the  spring  flights  at  that. 

The  Brant  is  mainly  maritime,  though  occa- 
sionally found  in  the  larger  inland  waters,  and 


*"^ 


Z 


THE  COMMON  BRANT  271 

while  a  common  bird  in  the  Old  World  is  found 
in  North  America  only  on  the  eastern  half. 
The  bird  is  well  known  and  highly  esteemed  by 
the  gunner.  It  comes  well  to  decoys  and  fur- 
nishes good  sport.  Its  flesh,  too,  is  of  good 
flavor  despite  its  somewhat  rank  food  of  mol- 
lusks  and  the  like.  When  possible  to  do  so  the 
Brant  chooses  a  vegetable  diet. 

It  is  marked  as  follows:  head  and  neck  jet 
black,  as  is  also  the  forebreast.  A  small  patch 
of  white  on  each  side  of  the  neck.  Breast  ashy 
gray,  this  color  sharply  contrasted  with  the 
black  above,  and  fading  below  into  the  white 
of  the  belly  and  crissum.  Above,  a  dusky 
brown,  with  paler  margins  to  the  feathers,  the 
rump  growing  darker  and  the  upper  tail  coverts 
showing  snowy  white  between  this  dark  area 
and  the  black  tail  feathers.  Wing  quills  also 
blackish.  Iris  brown;  bill,  feet  and  claws 
black.  Length  about  twenty-four,  extent  of 
wings  some  forty-eight  inches.  Weight  about 
four  pounds. 

In  northern  New  England  the  Brant  is  rarely 
shot  over  decoys,  our  method  being  that  toil- 
some fashion  of  pushing  a  gunning  float  around 
the  bay  in  steady  pursuit  until  the  birds  get 


272  FEATHERED  GAME 

sick  of  running  away  and  so  allow  the  gunner 
to  get  within  range  and  end  it  all.  They  are 
not  very  difficult  of  approach  as  compared  with 
the  average  of  our  ducks  and  their  big  cousins, 
the  Canadas.  The  smaller  flocks  are  ordin- 
arily more  readily  approached  than  the  large 
ones — a  general  rule  in  all  such  bay  gunning. 

We  in  the  north  of  the  Gulf  of  Maine  see 
few  of  these  migrants  at  either  season,  but  the 
brant  slayer  of  Cape  Cod  is  more  favored  of 
the  gods.  Not  only  has  he  a  hundred  birds 
where  we  have  one,  but  no  weary  toil  at  the 
"scull  oar"  is  his,  for  the  Cape  is  about  the  last 
stopping  place  of  their  migration  and  here  they 
plan  to  rest  and  "take  in  ballast,"  as  the  gun- 
ners name  their  habit  of  filling  their  crops  with 
sand. 

When  the  flights  strike  there,  usually  the  lat- 
ter part  of  April  or  the  first  of  May,  the  wise 
gunner  has  his  small  "shanty"  erected  near 
the  beach,  a  sink  box  set  in  the  sands  on  a  con- 
venient point  near  high  water  mark,  and  if  no 
natural  bar  is  there  he  proceeds  to  build  one  a 
fair  gunshot  away  from  the  sink  and  just  high 
enough  to  be  above  the  lift  of  the  tide.  Here 
his  live  decoys  may  disport  and  enjoy  them- 


THE  COMMON  BRANT  273 

selves  as  much  as  their  anchors  and  road  lines 
will  permit.  When,  as  the  rising  tide  drifts 
them  in,  the  flocks  of  Brants  see  these  captives 
upon  their  little  islands,  they  paddle  in  to  clam- 
ber up  and  take  part  in  their  joys.  The  gun- 
ners, for  there  are  usually  several  in  a  box, 
may  make  a  heavy  killing,  each  taking  a  sep- 
arate portion  of  the  flock  and  raking  it  with 
deadly  effect  at  a  given  signal.  After  a  few 
such  experiences  the  birds  usually  "tower" 
into  the  air  to  a  great  height  and  bear  away 
for  the  north.  A  wounded  Brant  is  commonly 
captured,  for  it  seldom  dives  nor  is  it  a  fast 
swimmer. 

The  name,  Brant  Goose,  is  a  corruption  of 
Brent,  or  Burnt,  Goose,  referring  to  its  char- 
coal coloring. 

The  Pacific  coast  and  western  country  has  a 
representative  of  the  race  which  is  closely  re- 
lated to  this  species — the  Black  Brant.  This 
also  winters  on  the  Asiatic  coast  as  well  as  on 
our  own. 


274  FEATHERED  GAME 


THE  MALLARD. 

(Anas  boschas.) 

From  the  records  of  our  older  gunners  the 
number  of  Mallards  now  visiting  our  section 
shows  a  material  decrease  in  the  last  few  years. 
Even  up  to  fifteen  years  ago  they  were  not  un- 
common, but  now  this  world-wide  favorite  with 
the  wildfowler  is  seldom  seen  here  (Maine)  ex- 
cept in  the  favored  waters  of  Merrymeeting 
Bay,  which  place,  as  regards  the  number  and 
variety  of  wildfowl  found,  is  probably  the  best 
duck-shooting  point  anywhere  along  the  north- 
east coast  of  the  United  States.  In  Casco  Bay 
we  may  take  fifty  Mallards  in  a  season,  though 
I  think  this  is  a  very  liberal  estimate. 
Throughout  the  central  portion  of  the  continent 
this  is  the  most  numerous  species  of  wildfowl. 
But  with  all  this  scarcity  of  Mallards  in  our 
waters  there  is  still  a  crumb  of  comfort  for  us 
in  the  thought  that  we  have  the  black  duck,  a 
near  relation,  and  as  a  game  bird  fully  the  equal 
of,  and  in  some  respects  superior  to,  Mr.  Mal- 
lard himself.  Were  it  not  for  the  black  duck 
the  New  England  wildfowler  who  is  not  con- 


Q 

<c 

-J 

-J 
< 


THE  MALLARD  275 

tent  with  shooting  " trash  ducks"  might  as  well 
sell  his  ten-bore  for  old  metal  for  all  the 
pleasure  he  would  get  from  it;  but  the  crop  of 
duskies  seems  to  be  pretty  much  the  same  each 
year,  for  which  blessing  we  should  be  truly 
thankful. 

After  their  arrival  on  the  breeding  grounds 
the  Mallards  choose  their  mates,  the  drakes 
often  fighting  fierce  battles  for  the  possession 
of  the  belles  of  the  flock.  As  each  pair  agrees 
to  join  forces  for  the  season  they  leave  the  main 
body  to  seek  out  a  suitable  nesting  place. 
They  usually  make  their  nest  upon  the  ground, 
but  will  not  refuse  to  occupy  the  deserted  nest 
of  hawk  or  crow  if  in  a  spot  where  they  have 
reason  to  think  that  the  ground  floor  is  unsafe. 
Their  nests  are  lined  with  dry  grass  and  down 
from  their  own  bodies.  The  complement  of 
eggs  varies  from  eight  to  ten,  dingy  yellowish 
gray  in  color,  and  not  to  be  distinguished  from 
those  of  the  domestic  bird.  The  period  of  in- 
cubation is  about  four  weeks. 

In  the  Old  World  the  Mallard  is  one  of  the 
commonest  ducks,  nesting  in  the  northern  por- 
tions of  Europe  and  Asia,  and  wintering  in 
southern  Asia  and  northern  Africa.    With  us 


276  FEATHERED  GAME 

it  occasionally  breeds  in  the  United  States,  but 
mostly  to  the  northward,  though  the  rice-grown 
lakes  and  swamps  of  some  of  our  north-western 
States  are  fairly  well  populated  with  them  in 
the  nesting  season.  The  principal  breeding 
ground  lies  in  Canada  in  the  Saskatchewan 
country.  The  absence  of  breeding  Mallards 
on  our  continent  eastward  of  Hudson  Bay  and 
their  common  occurrence  in  Greenland  opens 
up  a  field  for  investigation.  The  bird  life  of 
Greenland  includes  many  Old  World  species. 
Aside  from  the  stray  representatives  of  the 
European  form  there  is  in  Greenland  a  distinct 
resident  race  of  Mallards.  It  is  hardly  credible 
that  the  American  race  would  cross  hundreds 
of  miles  of  equally  good  breeding  territory  on 
the  mainland  to  nest  in  Greenland.  Again,  is 
it  not  possible  that  the  comparatively  few  Mal- 
lards which  find  their  way  to  northern  New 
England,  especially  in  the  winter  months,  may 
be  from  the  shores  of  Greenland,  and  so,  per- 
haps, of  the  Greenland  race  rather  than  our 
own  western  form?  The  cold  weather  as  a  rule 
finds  them  comfortably  settled  in  the  lagoons 
and  bayous  of  the  South  Atlantic  and  Gulf 
States,    where    they    may    laugh    at    winter's 


THE  MALLARD  277 

storms  and  revel  in  food  in  abundance;  but  the 
writer  has  known  of  several  fine  specimens  in 
full  breeding  plumage  being  taken  on  our  coast 
(in  Casco  Bay)  during  the  very  severest  of  the 
winter's  weather,  all  male  birds  and  nearly  al- 
ways alone.  On  the  Pacific  coast  they  winter 
from  the  Aleutian  Islands  to  southern  Califor- 
nia. 

The  farmer  is  indebted  to  this  species  for  the 
common  domestic  duck,  which  is  a  lineal  de- 
scendant of  this  gallant  gentleman,  yet  few 
would  guess  from  the  clumsy  waddle  of  the 
bird  of  the  barnyard  that  he  had  any  blood  in 
common  with  this  free  courser  of  lake  and 
marsh.  What  a  degenerate  scion  of  a  noble 
race !  In  his  habits  the  domestic  bird  has  kept 
as  closely  as  may  be  to  the  ways  of  his  ances- 
tors, but  his  lazy  life  and  uneventful  existence 
have  taken  away  well  nigh  all  the  wild  bird's 
fire  and  graceful  action,  so  that  he  falls  far 
short  of  his  model. 

Our  hero  is  brilliantly  appareled  in  showy 
garb,  and  is  a  handsome  bird,  especially  in  his 
spring  plumage.  The  female,  as  is  usually 
the  case  with  the  duck  family,  is  attired 
in  much  more  sober  dress.     The  drake,  then, 


278  FEATHERED  GAME 

is  colored  on  the  head  and  upper  neck  a 
rich,  metallic  green,  lustrous  and  glossy.  A 
sharply  denned  ring  of  white  runs  around 
the  neck  at  the  base  of  this  area,  and  be- 
ginning under  this  the  lower  neck  and  up- 
per breast  are  a  rich,  deep  chestnut  with  a 
purplish  sheen,  fading  into  the  silver  gray  of 
the  lower  breast  and  under  parts  of  the  body, 
this  gray  color  finely  waved  with  faint  darker 
lines.  Lower  part  of  the  back,  rump,  tail  cov- 
erts and  crissum  black.  Tail  feathers  whitish, 
central  ones  growing  more  dusky,  and  with  two 
black,  up-curling  feathers  at  the  base  of  the 
tail.  Speculum  (the  bright  patch  in  the  wing 
formed  by  the  ends  of  some  of  the  secondaries) 
purplish,  changing  color  with  each  different 
view  point,  now  purplish,  now  violet,  now 
green,  and  bordered  about  by  a  margin  of  black 
feathers,  these  in  turn  being  defined  by  a  bar 
of  white  showing  at  the  ends  of  the  coverts  and 
at  the  outer  edge  of  the  speculum.  Iris  brown ; 
bill  greenish  yellow;  feet  and  legs  orange  red 
with  webs  a  trifle  darker  and  duller  in  tone. 
The  female  is  clad  in  a  mixed  and  mottled  dress 
of  black,  dusky  brown  and  tawny  yellow,  this1 
last  the  body  color,  lighter  in  shade  on  the  head, 


u 

D 
Q 

< 

qq 


THE  BLACK  DUCK  279 

neck  and  under  parts  and  the  dark  markings 
finer  and  fainter  here.  Wings  and  feet  as  in 
the  male  bird,  save  that  the  scapulars  are  of 
the  same  tawny  hue  as  the  rest  of  the  body. 
Bill  orange  with  a  dusky  patch  on  each  side. 

In  length  the  Mallard  is  from  twenty-two  to 
twenty-four  inches;  in  extent  from  thirty-two 
to  thirty-six  inches,  and  of  weight  varying  from 
two  and  one-half  to  three  and  one-quarter 
pounds. 

THE  BLACK  DUCK.  DUSKY  DUCK. 

(Anas  obscura.) 

This  is  the  duck  of  New  England.  To  the 
wildfowler  of  this  section  the  Black  Duck  is  all 
that  the  mallard  is  to  his  western  brother;  aye, 
more  than  all,  because  he  must  be  mallard,  red- 
head, canvasback,  pintail  and  many  another 
western  favorite  rolled  into  one  acute  and  re- 
sourceful waterfowl.  Mallard  and  Black  Duck 
are  closely  related,  but  inhabit  an  area  of  our 
land  apart  from  each  other.  They  have  ap- 
parently divided  the  continent  between  them, 
the  Black  Duck  taking  the  northern  and  east- 
ern range,  leaving  to  the  other  the  southern 


280  FEATHERED  GAME 

and  western  country.  Rarely  do  they  encroach 
upon  each  other's  territory  except  in  the  south 
during  the  winter  months.  This  species  ranges 
to  northern  Labrador  in  summer,  both  coast 
and  interior,  in  winter  going  south  to  Florida 
and  rarely  beyond. 

Because  of  its  abundance  and  the  excellence 
of  its  flesh  the  Black  Duck  has  long  been  the 
commonest  of  the  wildfowl  in  our  markets,  but 
happily  the  laws  now  prevent  the  sale  of  this 
fine  bird  in  much  of  the  northern  range  of  its 
family  in  the  United  States.  He  stays  with  us 
the  year  around.  When  in  winter  the  inland 
lakes  and  streams  are  closed  to  him  and  he  is 
left  to  the  cold  mercy  of  snow  and  ice,  nothing 
daunted,  he  betakes  himself  to  the  coast,  and  in 
the  never-frozen  waters  of  the  sea  finds  food 
in  abundance  and,  for  the  most  part,  safety. 
At  such  times  the  Black  Duck  lives  in  the  larger 
bays  and  the  open  ocean,  during  the  day  time 
sleeping  contentedly  on  the  water  if  the  weather 
is  fair,  and  seeking  shelter  from  the  storms  on 
the  lonely  isles  and  in  cozy  nooks  on  the  deep- 
sea  ledges,  flying  into  the  tide-waters  and  visit- 
ing the  "mussel-beds"  each  night  to  feed,  per- 
haps coming  ashore  for  fresh  water  so  needful 


THE  BLACK  DUCK  281 

to  him.  When  untroubled  he  will  stay  for  days 
in  a  quarter  where  food  is  plenty. 

Many  are  killed  during  the  winter  nights  by 
gunners  who  approach  them  in  their  deadly 
"floats"  and  shoot  them  as  they  huddle  on  the 
edges  of  the  ice  or  feed  along  the  muddy  banks 
of  the  channels.  Some  gunners  go  to  the  air- 
holes in  the  ice  with  a  number  of  half-tamed 
birds,  the  wounded  and  crippled  survivors  of 
former  gunning  trips  cured  and  half  domesti- 
cated to  serve  as  decoys.  Securely  fastening 
these  to  a  long  line  and  anchoring  them  at  a 
proper  distance,  the  gunner  sits  silent  and  mo- 
tionless in  his  float  until  the  whizzing  and  rush- 
ing of  wings  and  the  splashing  of  the  water  tell 
of  the  arrival  of  expected  visitors,  and  he  points 
his  barrels  by  the  light  of  the  moon  if  there  hap- 
pens to  be  a  moon  on  duty  that  night.  It  is  a 
cold  kind  of  business — this  sitting  still  in  your 
boat  on  a  winter's  night  with  not  even  the  priv- 
ilege of  walking  about  to  keep  alive. 

The  Black  Duck  is  wary  and  cautious  in  the 
extreme,  few  of  his  tribe  being  so  difficult  of 
approach,  scenting  danger  while  it  is  yet  afar 
off  and  waiting  not  a  second  warning,  but  ris- 
ing into  the  air  with  a  mighty  leap  as  though 


282  FEATHERED  GAME 

thrown  up  by  a  powerful  steel  spring,  then  off 
like  a  streak.  It  is  next  to  impossible  to  get 
within  shot  reach  of  him  in  a  gunning  float  in 
the  open  water,  and  it  is  not  the  easiest  matter 
to  get  at  him  in  the  marshes  where  there  is 
plenty  of  cover,  for  his  hearing  is  of  the  quick- 
est, his  sight  of  the  keenest,  and  every  sense  is 
constantly  on  the  alert.  It  seems  as  though  his 
sense  of  smell  would  detect  an  enemy  more 
surely  than  would  another  duck's  eyesight.  In 
a  mixed  gathering  of  waterfowl  society,  to  the 
Black  Duck  seems  given  the  full  responsibility 
of  sentry  duty — no  mean  compliment  to  his 
ability. 

Probably  the  most  of  these  birds  which  fall 
a  prey  to  the  gunner's  wiles  are  shot  from 
"sink-boxes"  and  "blinds"  in  the  reed-grown 
corners  of  fresh  water  ponds,  using  live  decoys 
to  lure  the  birds  on  to  their  destruction.  The 
successful  duck-shooter  must  be  up  betimes  and 
be  ready  to  endure  much  discomfort,  for  he 
must  be  at  his  position  before  daylight  in  order 
to  get  the  cream  of  the  shooting,  and,  where 
gunners  are  as  numerous  as  in  my  section,  a 
late  comer  is  apt  to  find  every  stand  occupied. 

The  decoys  are  placed  before  the  blind,  an- 


THE  BLACK  DUCK  283 

chored,  as  a  rule,  so  that  one  old  drake  is  some- 
what separated  from  the  rest,  and  being  dis- 
satisfied and  lonesome,  he  keeps  up  a  continual 
remonstrant  conversation  with  the  rest  of  his 
flock.  If  a  bunch  of  birds  is  passing  never  fear 
but  he  will  see  them  and  find  means  to  let  the 
strangers  know  of  his  presence  and  where- 
abouts, and  they,  with  a  sudden  turn  from  their 
course,  with  necks  outstretched  and  wings 
stiffly  set,  come  in  at  full  speed.  Now  they  turn 
away,  careering  around  the  pond  two  or  three 
times  because  the  foxy  old  fellow  who  leads 
them  is  not  just  suited  with  the  appearance  Of 
things, — some  small  matter  of  suspicion  in  his 
mind, — but  next  time  around  a  bird  or  two  in 
the  tail  of  the  flock,  more  hungry  than  wise, 
drop  out  with  slanting  flight, — then  another, 
and  yet  more, — until  finally  the  main  body 
comes  in  like  a  flight  of  arrows.  Splash! 
Splash !  They  have  settled  just  outside  the  line 
of  decoys  and  begin  to  swim  in  toward  them. 
Now  the  gunner  waits  until  they  are  bunched 
at  a  little  distance  from  his  "tolers,"  which  if 
old  hands  at  the  business  at  once  swim  away 
from  their  visitors,  and  when  his  feathered  as- 
sistants are  surely  safe  the  gunner  pulls  trig- 


284  FEATHEEED  GAME 

ger  where  there  is  the  greatest  number  of 
heads.  The  encore  when  the  survivors  rise  like 
the  scattered  fragments  of  a  bursting  shell  will 
hardly  account  for  more  than  a  pair,  but  usually 
the  "pot-shot"  with  the  first  barrel  has  done 
grand  service  toward  thinning  the  game  sup- 
ply, and  it  is  no  uncommon  occurrence  for  one 
gun  in  experienced  hands  to  gather  in  nearly 
all  of  the  flock.  I  have  known  a  man  to  wait 
twenty  minutes  with  his  destroyer  resting  on 
the  edge  of  the  "sink"  in  order  to  clean  up  the 
whole  bunch  with  one  cartridge.  Commend- 
able economy!  These  methods  are  mainly  em- 
ployed by  market  gunners  whose  favorite 
weapon  is,  in  most  cases,  an  eight-  or  four-bore 
"shoulder  cannon."  To  the  majority  of 
shooters  I  believe  that  one  duck  killed  cleanly 
on  the  wing  will  bring  more  real  satisfaction 
than  half  a  dozen  thus  murdered. 

Very  rarely  is  the  Black  Duck  fooled  by  any 
wooden  imitation  of  his  kind.  His  keen  eyes 
mark  the  difference  long  before  he  is  within  the 
reach  of  the  gun,  and  swerving  on  rapid  wings 
he  climbs  skyward  and  makes  off  at  great  speed 
— going  clean  out  of  sight,  returning  not  at  all 
to  such  a  dangerous  neighborhood. 


THE  BLACK  DUCK  285 

As  soon  as  the  ice  of  the  inland  lakes  breaks 
np  in  the  spring  the  Black  Duck  finds  it  out  in 
some  mysterious  way,  and  no  devotee  of  rod 
and  reel — trout  fisher  or  salmon  killer — is  ear- 
lier upon  the  scene  than  is  he.  Forsaking  the 
sea,  unmindful  of  its  kindly  shelter  and  gener- 
ous living  when  all  the  fresh  water  ponds  and 
lakes  refused  him  sustenance,  he  hurries  away, 
like  the  fickle  fellow  he  is,  to  the  swamps  and 
bog-holes  of  the  interior  as  soon  as  ever  he  can. 
Here,  during  the  merry  days  of  spring  and  sum- 
mer, he  lives  like  a  lord  in  the  fullness  and 
plenty  of  the  good  things  of  life,  and  the  sea 
knows  him  no  more  until  the  fall  migration  com- 
mences. 

This  species  nests  in  May  or  June,  according 
to  locality  and  seasons,  raising  a  brood  vary- 
ing in  number  from  six  to  ten.  The  nests  are 
commonly  made  upon  the  ground,  though  oc- 
casionally upon  the  top  of  some  decayed  stump. 
The  youngsters  appear  during  June,  or  July  at 
latest,  and  are  as  lively  a  family  of  infants  as 
any  proud  parent  could  wish.  Any  person  who 
doubts  their  abilities  should  try  to  catch  some 
unfledged  duckling.  If  there  is  cover  enough 
anywhere  near  in  which  to  hide,  rest  assured 


286  FEATHERED  GAME 

that  the  little  "flapper"  will  find  it,  for  the 
Black  Duck  at  any  age  is  a  most  skillful 
skulker. 

Though  by  far  the  greater  number  have  gone 
on  for  summer  quarters  to  Labrador  and  the 
Hudson  Bay  country,  the  more  remote  lakes  and 
ponds  of  Maine  are  alive  with  these  fine  birds 
during  the  breeding  season.  Scarcely  a  se- 
cluded cove  or  hidden  nook  in  their  margins 
but  has  its  brood  of  "waddling"  youngsters, 
happy  in  the  plenty  that  leaves  no  want  un- 
filled. When  the  summer  wanes  and  the  young 
birds  have  become  strong  enough  to  journey, 
straggling  ducks  begin  to  make  their  appear- 
ance in  the  salt  marshes,  then  in  small  bunches, 
a  few  at  a  time,  as  cold  weather  approaches 
they  gather  at  the  sea  into  flocks  ranging  from 
twenty  to  two  hundred  birds.  Near  my  home 
they  gather  winter  after  winter  at  the  mouth  of 
a  fresh  water  river  in  a  body  of,  at  times,  as 
many  as  five  thousand  birds,  coming  in  at  night 
and  spending  their  days  on  the  salt  water,  ex- 
cept in  bad  weather,  when  they  huddle  on  the 
ice  at  a  safe  distance  from  shore.  From  the 
first  of  September  such  of  their  number  as  are 
not  inclined  to  brave  the  rigors  of  a  New  Eng- 


THE  BLACK  DUCK  287 

land  winter  begin  their  longer  journey  to  south- 
ern waters,  and  up  to  the  middle  of  December 
the  migrant  birds  continue  to  pass. 

There  is  a  vast  difference  between  the  flavor 
of  the  winter  bird,  fed  on  the  mussels  and  an- 
imal food  of  the  salt  water,  and  that  of  the 
lazy  dweller  in  the  summer  lakes;  at  the  table 
one  would  scarcely  know  them  for  members  of 
the  same  family.  If  their  plumage  and  habits 
differed  as  much  as  the  taste  of  their  flesh  there 
would  be  strong  ground  for  the  opinion  which 
has  been  advanced  that  the  birds  of  our  win- 
ter months  are  of  a  race  distinct  from  the  birds 
which  we  gather  during  the  fall  flights.  This 
belief  is  based  upon  the  larger  size,  darker 
color,  much  heavier  streaking  on  head  and  neck, 
brighter  yellow  of  the  bill,  and  redder  tinge  of 
the  feet  and  legs  of  the  cold  weather  visitor — 
naming  it  the  "Hudson  Bay  Duck,"  and  claim- 
ing that  it  is  a  more  northern  race  than  the 
other.  This  is  the  one  occasion  which  has  come 
to  my  notice  where  the  sportsman  has  gotten  in 
ahead  of  the  scientist  in  the  separation  of  a 
sub-species :  by  our  duck  shooters  these  differ- 
ences have  long  been  noted  and  this  theory  of 
a  separate  race  been  held.     One  experienced 


288  FEATHERED  GAME 

wildfowler  of  my  acquaintance  claims  that  this 
duck  never  goes  near  the  inland  waters,  but 
is  entirely  a  maritime  race.  This  seems  hardly 
probable,  but  there  is  certainly  more  reason  for 
this  bit  of  "feather-splitting"  than  for  many 
other  cases  already  admitted  to  good  standing 
in  the  ornithologist's  list.  Mr.  William  Brew- 
ster, of  Cambridge,  Mass.,  has  given  this  north- 
ern form  official  sanction  and  the  scientific 
name  of  Anas  obscura  rubripes. 

It  may  be  well  to  state  that  in  the  southern 
part  of  its  range  there  are  two  varieties  of 
this  duck  known  to  the  scientist,  although  the 
average  gunner  would  not  be  likely  to  note  a 
difference;  these  are  the  Texan  and  the  Flor- 
idan  Black  Duck.  The  Floridan  race  is  of 
lighter  color  than  the  typical  bird;  cheeks  and 
throat  very  pale  buff,  almost,  if  not  quite,  with- 
out streaking;  bill  yellowish  olive  with  a  black 
nail  and  a  patch  of  black  at  the  base  of  upper 
mandible,  resembling  somewhat  more  the  fe- 
male mallard  than  the  type  of  the  Black  Duck. 
Speculum  sometimes  greenish,  sometimes  pur- 
plish, and  often  the  feathers  making  it  are 
white-tipped. 

The  Texan  race  has  a  dirty  gray  color  on 


THE  BLACK  DUCK  289 

the  throat,  cheeks  and  neck,  these  last  slightly- 
streaked  with  brown  lines.  Speculum  purple, 
feathers  tipped  with  white.  Under  parts 
lighter  than  in  northern  races,  each  feather 
spotted  near  the  tip  with  dusky  brown.  Both 
these  races  show  markings  which  might  indi- 
cate a  mallard  cross.  Hybrids  between  mallard 
and  black  duck  are  not  uncommon.  Probably 
"Brewer's  Duck,"  described  and  figured  by 
Audubon,  was  such  a  bird. 

There  is  yet  another  species  (Diaz'  Black 
Duck)  resident  in  Central  America  and  Mexico, 
closely  resembling  the  two  southern  forms. 

The  Black  Duck  is  a  strong  flyer,  swift  of 
wing  and  capable  of  putting  in  many  miles  with- 
out a  halt,  in  its  migratory  flights  passing  over 
at  a  height  which  makes  it  secure  from  all  harm. 
The  spring  and  fall  months,  of  course,  see  more 
Black  Ducks  in  our  waters  than  do  any  other 
seasons,  these  excursions  to  and  from  the  breed- 
ing grounds  bringing  many  travelers  of  this 
sort  to  our  shores  and  lakes. 

In  the  West  our  Black  Duck  is  sometimes 
called  the  Black  Mallard.  He  resembles  some- 
what the  female  of  that  species  but  is  consider- 
ably darker  in  his  coloration.     In  size  the  two 


290  FEATHERED  GAME 

are  about  equal  though  in  the  few  comparisons 
which  the  writer  has  had  the  opportunity  of 
making  the  Black  Duck  has  had  a  shade  the 
better  of  the  weights.  The  male  and  female  of 
this  species  are  marked  alike,  and  the  male 
bird  may  usually  be  distinguished  by  the  fine 
line  of  white  on  the  outer  edge  of  the  speculum, 
but  this  rule  is  not  invariable.  The  general 
color  of  these  birds  is  a  dull,  dusky  brown,  with 
a  lighter  yellowish  brown  on  the  edges  of  the 
feathers.  Head  and  neck  are  lighter  in  tone 
and  of  a  yellowish  buff  shade,  darker  on  the  top 
of  the  head  and  back  of  the  neck,  lighter  on  the 
throat  and  streaked  with  dark  brown  lines 
which  are  more  numerous  on  the  hind  neck  and 
crown  than  on  cheeks,  chin  and  throat.  The 
speculum  is  of  deep  violet  hue,  set  in  a  black 
frame;  usually  in  the  male  with  a  fine  edging 
of  white  showing  on  the  tips  of  the  feathers 
which  make  it.  Iris  brown;  bill  yellowish 
green  with  a  black  nail;  feet  are  dull  orange 
with  dusky  webs  and  black  nails. 

The  weight  of  this  species  ranges  from  two 
and  one-half  to  three  and  one-half  pounds.  The 
length  averages  from  twenty-two  to  twenty- 
four  inches;  in  extent  the  measurements  vary 


-J 

-J 
< 

Q 

< 
O 


THE  GADWALL  291 

from  thirty-two  to  thirty-four  inches.  I  think 
the  " Hudson  Bay  Duck"  may  average  from 
one-half  to  three-quarters  of  a  pound  heavier 
than  our  summer  and  fall  resident,  with  a  cor- 
responding increase  in  its  sail-plan.  Have 
heen  informed  by  reliable  parties  of  a  Northern 
Black  Duck  weighing  four  and  one-half  pounds. 
The  Black  Duck  is  one  of  the  largest  of  the 
"river  ducks,"  and  in  proper  condition  is  un- 
surpassed for  the  table.  Its  food  is  clean  and. 
its  flesh  is  usually  tender  and  of  good  Savor. 
This  duck  is  easily  domesticated.  It  might  be 
a  profitable  investment  for  someone  to  raise 
them  for  the  market.  They  are  hardy,  would 
need  little  care,  and  would  probably  thrive  with 
a  fair  chance.  It  is  likely  that  they  would  sell 
well  in  the  markets,  judging  from  the  way  the 
wild  birds  have  always  been  snapped  up  in  this 
neighborhood  in  the  days  when  sale  was  per- 
mitted. 


THE  GADWALL.     GRAY  DUCK. 

(Chaulelasmus  streperus.) 

Though  found  more   or  less  abundantly  in 
all  parts   of  North  America,   and  in  fact  all 


292  FEATHERED  GAME 

over  the  Northern  Hemisphere,  and  breeding 
throughout  its  range,  this  duck  is  an  uncommon 
visitant  in  the  eastern  and  coast  waters  of  our 
continent  north  of  South  Carolina.  Here  is 
another  case  of  discrimination  against  the  New 
England  gunner,  for  in  our  section  it  is  even 
more  rarely  found.  In  a  twenty  years'  ac- 
quaintance with  one  of  the  best  duck-shooting 
ponds  of  the  New  England  States  I  have  heard 
of  only  three  Gadwalls  being  taken  there,  have 
seen  but  five  birds  which  had  been  killed  in  this 
locality,  and  have  never  seen  the  bird  in  life 
in  these  waters.  Its  home  is  through  the  cen- 
tral and  western  portions  of  our  country,  from 
our  prairies  north  to  the  Saskatchewan. 

It  is  a  fine  table  bird,  ranking  well  up  at  the 
head  of  the  list.  Not  far  removed  from  the 
mallard  in  kin,  and  of  about  the  same  size,  the 
female  somewhat  resembles  the  female  of  that 
species  in  markings  and  dress.  They  come  well 
to  mallard  decoys  and  often  mix  with  mallards 
in  flight  and  on  the  feeding  grounds.  The  notes 
of  the  two  are  nearly  identical.  Both  are  shoal 
water  feeders,  seldom  diving  but  getting  their 
living  along  the  banks  and  edges  of  the  lakes 
or  by  "tipping"  in  the  shallows. 


THE  GADWALL  293 

The  Gadwall  builds  its  nest  upon  the  ground 
or  in  low,  dead  stubs.  The  complement  of  eggs 
varies  from  six  to  ten  in  number,  usually  nearer 
the  smaller  figure.  The  color  of  these  is  a  deli- 
cate creamy  white.  The  male  is  a  very  prettily 
marked  bird  with  some  brilliant  touches  of 
color  in  his  plumage.  His  head  and  neck  are 
a  pale  yellowish  white,  streaked  with  dusky  or 
black;  darker  and  brownish  in  tone,  as  well  as 
more  heavily  streaked  on  the  crown.  Lower 
neck  all  around,  breast  and  upper  parts  of  the 
back  bluish  black,  the  feathers  with  fine  edgings 
of  white,  many  of  them  having  spots  of  the 
same  color  on  their  centres,  thus  giving  the  ef- 
fect of  a  delicate  collar  of  lace.  These  colors 
are  more  sharply  defined  on  the  breast,  and  on 
the  back  gradually  blend  with  the  body  colors. 
Lower  back  dusky,  growing  black  on  the  rump 
and  tail  coverts.  The  scapulars  are  a  dull  red- 
dish brown;  lesser  upper  coverts  gray,  chang- 
ing and  shading  into  a  bright  chestnut  on  the 
middle  coverts  and  again  to  black  on  the  great- 
er coverts.  Speculum  white.  Linings  of  the 
wings  white;  axillars  white,  with  white  shafts. 
Under  parts  grayish  or  white,  with  faint  dusky 
pencillings,    the    vermiculations    heavier    and 


294  FEATHERED  GAME 

wider  upon  the  sides  and  flanks ;  under  tail  cov- 
erts black.  Bill  dull  bluish;  feet  dull  orange 
with  dusky  webs  and  nails.  Iris  reddish 
brown. 

The  female  is  a  little  smaller  than  the  male; 
bill  orange  yellow  with  splashes  of  dusky  color 
upon  it.  Feet  as  in  the  male,  perhaps  a  little 
more  dingy  in  shade.  Above,  the  bird  is  col- 
ored with  a  mixture  of  tawny  yellow,  brown 
and  black.  Little  or  no  chestnut  on  wing  cov- 
erts; speculum  white.  The  young  male  dur- 
ing the  first  year  resembles  the  female,  as  is 
the  rule  with  most  ducks  of  the  year. 

In  length  this  species  is  from  twenty-one  to 
twenty-three  inches ;  in  extent  it  averages  from 
thirty-three  to  thirty-five  inches.  Weight  about 
two  and  one-half  pounds. 

The  title,  "blarting  duck,"  is  given  it  in  some 
localities  from  its  noisy  habits.  The  scientist 
has  used  a  more  euphonious  word,  but  freely 
translated,  streperus  conveys  the  same  idea. 

This  species  is  almost  entirely  a  citizen  of 
the  fresh  water.  In  some  portions  of  the  coun- 
try it  is  known  as  the  "Creek  Duck"  because 
of  its  marked  fondness  for  small  streams.  In 
common  with  the  other  "river  ducks"  the  Gad- 


z 

O 

G 
Q 


THE  WIDGEON  295 

wall  is  a  vegetable  feeder,  but  it  can  put  up  with 
a  fish  diet  if  the  other  sort  of  provender  is  hard 
to  come  by. 

THE  WIDGEON. 

(Mareca  americana.) 

While  not  so  numerous  in  our  corner  of  the 
continent  as  is  the  black  duck,  the  Widgeon  is 
fairly  abundant;  perhaps  more  so  than  is  gen- 
erally supposed.  Shy,  wary  and  difficult  of  ap- 
proach it  is  not  always  recognized  at  the  safe 
distance  at  which  it  usually  takes  flight.  It  is 
by  no  means  an  unusual  bird  in  our  ponds  and 
lakes  during  the  spring  and  fall  flights,  and 
more  common  in  the  fresh  waters  than  on  the 
coast.  But  it  is  in  the  sloughs  and  lakes  of  the 
western  States  and  the  interior  of  Canada  west- 
ward and  northwestward  from  Hudson  Bay, 
where  they  breed  in  great  numbers,  or  in  the 
winter  months  among  the  rice  swamps  of  the 
south,  that  the  Widgeon  is  in  his  glory. 

With  us  in  New  England  most  of  them  are 
killed  during  the  fall  flights,  for  very  little 
spring  shooting  is  done  in  this  section.  The 
birds  themselves  move  along  more  leisurely  and 
make  longer   stops  on  their  fall  travels  than 


296  FEATHERED  GAME 

when  on  their  spring  migrations,  perhaps  in 
consideration  of  the  weaker  powers  of  the 
young  birds,  or,  having  reared  up  their  families, 
they  feel  that  they  have  earned  a  vacation  and 
so  loiter  by  the  way. 

Rarely  this  bird  is  taken  in  our  coast  waters 
during  the  winter  months.  It  is  mostly  as  a 
migrant  that  we  see  it,  as  but  few  birds  of  this 
species  are  believed  to  breed  within  our  borders. 
Still  a  careful  search  in  the  marshes  and 
swamps  of  our  Maine  lakes  might  perhaps 
prove  it  a  prominent  citizen  of  those  parts. 
Its  nest  is  made  upon  the  ground  and  contains 
from  eight  to  ten  dingy  buff-colored  eggs. 

It  is  said  that  in  the  Delaware  and  Chesa- 
peake waters  the  Widgeon  is  something  of  a 
pirate — an  unfailing  and  steady  attendant  on 
the  canvasback,  preying  upon  its  hard-work- 
ing neighbor  and  depending  upon  it  for  the  lux- 
uries and  delicacies  of  the  feeding  ground,  for 
the  Widgeon  not  being  an  expert  diver,  and  the 
canvasback  feeding  mostly  on  the  roots  and 
plants  growing  on  the  bottom, — especially  the 
wild  celery,  of  which  all  the  duck  family  are 
very  fond, — the  Widgeon  uses  his  neighbor's 


THE  WIDGEON  297 

superior  ability  for  his  own  benefit,  snatching 
the  plunder  the  instant  his  victim's  head  ap- 
pears above  the  water.  Of  course  there  is  much 
wrangling  between  the  two  upon  the  feeding 
grounds,  for  no  self-respecting  duck  can  tamely 
endure  such  high-handed  treatment. 

The  Widgeon  ranks  close  to  the  canvasback 
in  table  qualities.  Perhaps  this,  with  some  oth- 
ers of  the  "river  ducks,"  would  rank  equally 
high  but  for  the  judicious  advertising  of  the 
canvasback 's  good  qualities  by  shrewd  dealers. 
In  fact,  many  redheads  are  palmed  off  upon 
the  unsuspecting  epicure  as  the  "aristocratic 
canvasback. ' ' 

The  Widgeon  likes  to  doze  in  the  sun  on  the 
sandbars  and  in  the  quiet  corners  of  the  marsh 
during  the  day,  going  to  the  feeding  grounds 
at  night,  usually  traveling  in  small  flocks  with 
rapid  and  well  sustained  flight,  often  moving 
in  "company  front,"  the  central  birds  leading 
slightly. 

Very  few  are  killed  in  the  open  water,  most 
meeting  their  fate  in  the  early  hours  of  the 
morning  at  the  blinds  in  the  marshes,  lured 
on  to  their  undoing  by  the  seductive  quack  of 


298  FEATHERED  GAME 

the  lonesome  and  talkative  decoy  duck  anchored 
in  an  attractive  ' '  pondhole. "  It  is  not  the 
readiest  of  the  ducks  to  decoy,  however. 

The  Widgeon  is  a  beautiful  and  graceful  duck, 
and  by  his  peculiar  markings  will  command  the 
admiring  attention  of  any  gunner  who  may  cap- 
ture him.  In  his  full  plumage  the  male  bird 
is  marked  on  the  top  of  his  head  with  a  large 
area  of  snowy  white;  on  the  sides  of  the  head 
and  neck  a  yellowish  white,  spotted  and 
streaked  with  dusky;  a  black  patch, — in  some 
lights  metallic  green, — runs  from  the  eye  back 
to  the  nape;  the  lower  neck  and  upper  breast 
are  light  reddish  brown  with  a  purplish  gloss 
and  sheen  to  the  feathers,  their  edges  a  trifle 
lighter  than  the  centers ;  on  the  sides  and  flanks 
the  same  shade  finely  waved  with  indistinct 
dusky  crossbars. 

The  lower  breast  and  under  parts  are  pure 
white;  the  crissum  jet  black  against  this  color. 
The  purplish  brown  of  the  lower  neck  and 
breast  spreads  over  the  hind  neck  and  down  the 
back,  waved  with  fine  dusky  lines  set  closely 
together.  The  lesser  wing  coverts  are  gray, 
growing  lighter  toward  the  middle  and  greater 


THE  WIDGEON  299 

coverts,  the  last  becoming  pure  white.  The 
speculum  is  bright  metallic  green  set  in  a  frame 
of  black.  Bill  narrow,  pale  slatey  blue,  with  a 
dusky  tip  and  black  nail;  feet  and  legs  of  the 
same  dull  blue  color  but  somewhat  darker  than 
bill,  the  webs  and  claws  blackish.     Iris  brown. 

The  female  is  not  so  brilliantly  dressed,  for, 
as  usual  among  the  feathered  tribes,  the  male 
bird  wears  the  good  clothes  and  "puts  on  the 
style"  for  the  family.  Still,  the  female  Wid- 
geon is  rather  better  dressed  than  the  average 
of  her  lady  acquaintances.  She  lacks  the  white 
area  on  the  crown,  the  dusky  streaks  being  car- 
ried all  over  her  head,  and  the  reddish  brown  of 
her  neck  and  breast  is  broken  up  with  heavier 
black  bars.  The  back  is  mottled  with  reddish 
and  dark  brown,  the  red  mainly  on  the  tips  and 
edges  of  the  feathers.  The  wing  is  much  as  in 
the  male  though  the  coverts  are  darker  and 
grayer  in  tone.  The  speculum  as  in  the  male 
bird.  At  different  seasons  and  ages  this  bird 
varies  in  its  plumage  but  will  probably  be  known 
at  once  in  any  stage  of  its  development  by  its 
wing  characters  or  the  slightly  lengthened  tail 
feathers. 


300  FEATHERED  GAME 

The  Widgeon  is  from  eighteen  to  twenty-two 
inches  long  and  in  extent  varies  from  thirty  to 
thirty-two  inches. 

On  rare  occasions  the  European  widgeon 
visits  us.  The  male  of  this  species  varies  con- 
siderably from  the  male  of  the  American  bird. 
The  principal  differences  in  coloring  of  the  two 
species  are  found  in  the  markings  of  the  head 
and  neck;  the  Old  World's  representative  has 
the  forehead  and  crown  creamy  or  buffy  white 
and  on  the  sides  of  the  head  and  neck  is  marked 
with  rufous.  There  is  no  decided  stripe  of 
green  behind  the  eye,  though  a  few  spottings 
of  metallic  color  show  here. 

The  females  of  the  two  are  hardly  distin- 
guished from  each  other. 


THE  GREEN-WINGED  TEAL. 

(Nettion  carolinensis.) 

The  Teals  are  among  the  smallest  of  their 
tribe,  and  among  the  finest  in  point  of  food  qual- 
ities and  in  beauty  of  plumage.  Of  the  three 
species  native  to  the  North  American  continent, 
two,  the  Green-winged  and  the  Blue-winged,  are 
well  known  and  highly  esteemed  by  the  New 


H 

a 

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a 


THE  GREEN-WINGED  TEAL        301 

England  gunner,  and  in  addition  to  these  the 
family  is  worthily  represented  westward  of  the 
backbone  of  our  continent  by  the  Cinnamon,  or 
Red-breasted  Teal,  formerly  considered  a  strag- 
gler from  South  America,  but  now  well  estab- 
lished among  our  own  birds.  Rarely  the  Euro- 
pean Teal  is  taken  in  our  eastern  waters.  All 
have  the  same  traits  in  common,  decoying  well, 
flying  at  great  speed  in  compact  flocks,  close  to 
the  water.  Surface  feeders,  fastidious  in  their 
choice  of  food,  living  on  the  wild  grains  and 
seeds  of  the  marshes  and  the  menu  of  the  fresh 
water  ponds,  their  flesh  is  second  to  none  of 
the  family  in  tenderness  and  good  flavor. 

The  Teals  are  said  to  breed  readily  and  thrive 
well  in  captivity.  If  this  is  so,  surely  their 
beauty  should  at  once  find  them  a  place  with 
the  breeders  of  fancy  fowl.  The  Green-winged 
Teal  is  the  hardier  of  the  two  eastern  species, 
staying  in  this  latitude  considerably  later  than 
does  the  Blue-winged,  being  found  here  as  late 
as  November,  while  the  other  rarely  stays  with 
us  later  than  the  first  of  October  unless  the  sea- 
son is  unusually  warm.  As  a  rule  the  cream 
of  the  shooting  on  Blue-winged  Teal  is  over  by 
the  middle  of  September. 


302  FEATHERED  GAME 

The  rice  swamps  and  lagoons  of  the  southern 
States  are  most  populous  with  this  species  dur- 
ing the  winter  months,  though  many  go  on  to 
the  West  Indies  and  even  farther. 

The  breeding  dress  of  the  Green-winged  drake 
is  a  beautiful  piece  of  coloring.  The  head  and 
upper  neck  a  rich,  bright  chestnut,  darkening 
on  the  chin;  a  glossy  patch  of  dark  metallic 
green  running  back  from  each  eye  and  growing 
deeper  on  the  nape  where  the  two  stripes  come 
together  among  the  drooping  feathers  of  the 
crest.  This  crest,  quite  pronounced  at  this 
time,  is  hardly  noticeable  in  the  fall  plumage. 
Above,  silvery  gray,  finely  and  regularly  waved 
with  countless  jet  black  lines.  A  small  "half- 
moon,"  or  crescent  of  white,  in  front  of  each 
wing — almost  the  only  difference  of  plumage 
between  this  and  the  European  variety,  which 
lacks  this  marking.  Have  seen  the  American 
Green-wing  lacking  the  white  bar  mentioned, 
but  this  is  rarely  so  in  the  full  plumage.  If 
this  mark  is  missing  and  the  inner  tertials  are 
creamy  white  it  is  probable  that  the  specimen 
is  a  stray  from  the  Old  World.  Primaries  and 
wing  coverts  brownish  gray.  Speculum  a  rich 
dark  green,  changeable  and  lustrous.    Neck  and 


THE  GREEN- WINGED  TEAL   303 

upper  breast  a  beautiful  buff  tint  with  numer- 
ous black  "polka  dots"  scattered  through  it, 
these  growing  fewer  and  fainter  below,  and  the 
buff  fading  gradually  into  a  grayish  white,  on 
the  flanks  finely  pencilled  with  regular  lines  of 
black.  Crissum  black  with  buff  both  before  and 
behind  it.  Bill  black;  iris  brown;  feet  dull 
bluish. 

The  females  of  our  own  species  and  of  the 
European  race  are  not  to  be  distinguished 
apart.  Our  bird  may  average  a  trifle  larger. 
The  female  is  not  crested  and  is  much  less  show- 
ily dressed.  Head  and  neck  light  yellowish 
brown,  finely  streaked  with  black.  Above,  mot- 
tled with  yellow,  brown  and  black.  Below  gray- 
ish, with  buff  shadings  and  dusky  specklings  on 
the  breast.  In  her  other  coloring  she  is  nearly 
like  the  male. 

"With  these,  as  is  generally  the  case  with  the 
duck  tribe,  the  greater  number  breed  beyond 
the  boundaries  of  the  United  States,  through 
the  lake  country  of  Canada,  anywhere  east  of 
the  Rockies,  though  where  conditions  are  suit- 
able they  are  fairly  numerous  during  the  nest- 
ing season  in  the  northernmost  States.  The 
nest  is  made  upon  the  ground;  a  slight  affair 


304  FEATHERED  GAME 

of  weeds  and  dry  grass  lined  with  feathers. 
This  generally  contains  in  the  neighborhood  of 
eight  eggs,  of  a  dull,  grayish  green  color. 

The  Green-winged  Teal  is  common  all  over 
eastern  North  America,  perhaps  less  numerous 
beyond  the  Rockies  and  on  the  Pacific  Coast, 
and  is  of  casual  occurrence  in  Europe. 


THE  BLUE-WINGED  TEAL. 

(Querquedula  discors.) 

In  habits  and  mode  of  life  this  species  is  al- 
most identical  with  the  green-winged  teal.  It 
is  a  trifle  larger  and  a  little  more  southerly  in 
its  range.  The  "Blue-wing"  is  seldom  seen 
west  of  the  Rockies  except  as  it  straggles  to  the 
extreme  northern  part  of  its  habitat. 

The  drake  is  a  showy  bird.  His  wedding 
clothes  are  a  credit  to  himself  and  to  his  tailor. 
His  head  is  dark  slatey  brown  with  a  sheen  of 
purple  to  the  feathers;  the  crown  darkening 
with  fine  dusky  markings.  A  large  crescent  of 
white  with  its  points  extending  backward  in 
front  of  each  eye.  (This  is  lacking  in  the  fall 
plumage.)  Lower  hind  neck  and  upper  part  of 
the  back  blackish,  the  back  mottled  with  black, 


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THE  BLUE-WINGED  TEAL        305 

brownish  and  dull  yellow,  this  last  color  on  the 
edges  of  the  feathers.  Lower  part  of  the  back 
and  rump  dusky,  as  are  also  the  tail  feathers. 
Wing  coverts  a  very  light  and  beautiful  shade 
of  blue,  some  of  the  scapulars  also  showing  the 
same  shade  as  well  as  jet  black  and  golden  yel- 
low in  stripes  lengthwise  upon  the  feathers. 
Speculum  a  dark,  glossy  green,  set  off  by  the 
white  of  the  greater  coverts.  Wing  quills  dark 
brownish.  Under  parts  brownish  yellow  with 
countless  jet  black  spots  on  the  throat  and 
breast,  these  growing  less  numerous,  larger  in 
size  and  of  less  decided  color  below.  Crissum 
black ;  patch  of  white  on  each  side  of  the  rump. 
Bill  leaden  black.  Feet  a  dull,  pale  yellow  with 
dusky  webs  and  nails.  Iris  brown.  The  sea- 
sonal changes  in  its  plumage  are  not  very 
marked,  the  lack  of  the  white  crescent  in  the 
drake's  face  in  the  fall  being  the  most  radical. 
For  the  female,  above  she  is  marked  much 
like  her  mate,  having  the  same  bright  blue  on 
the  wing  coverts,  the  striping  of  the  scapulars 
and  the  green  speculum.  She  is  perhaps  less 
decidedly  colored  and  spotted  below,  though  the 
main  differences  lie  in  the  markings  of  the  head 
and  neck, — these  being  dull  brownish  yellow 


306  FEATHERED  GAME 

with  blackish  and  brownish  streaks.  She  is 
readily  distinguished  from  any  other  duck  which 
is  likely  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  eastern 
gunner,  though  where  the  cinnamon  teal  is 
found  it  might  pass  for  the  female  of  that  spe- 
cies if  not  closely  examined,  since  they  are  much 
alike  except  for  the  ruddier  color  of  Mrs.  Cin- 
namon on  the  breast  and  below,  and  the  dusky 
patch  on  her  chin. 

The  length  of  this  bird  averages  between  fif- 
teen and  sixteen  inches,  and  the  extent  from 
twenty-five  to  twenty-seven;  as  may  be  seen,  a 
trifle  larger  than  the  "green-wing." 

These  are  mostly  dwellers  in  the  fresh  water, 
rarely  venturing  upon  the  sea  except  during  the 
migrations.  Their  flesh  ranks  high  among  the 
waterfowl,  being  one  of  the  best  ducks  which 
find  their  way  to  the  table.  Their  breeding 
habits  are  as  the  "green-wing's,"  nesting  near- 
ly throughout  the  range  of  that  species,  and  in 
addition  to  that  they  breed  among  the  West 
Indies  and  in  Central  America  and  Mexico. 
They  winter  from  the  central  United  States  to 
central  South  America. 

Their  flight  is  surprisingly  swift  and  power- 
ful considering  their  small  size.     Not  all  their 


THE  BLUE-WINGED  TEAL         307 

larger  brethren  can  equal  them  in  speed,  and  if 
they  chance  to  join  a  flock  of  larger  ducks  the 
big  fellows  must  keep  moving  or  the  Teal  will 
show  them  the  road.  Estimates  of  the  speed 
of  ducks  set  the  record  for  the  teals  at  one  hun- 
dred miles  an  hour, — probably  as  liberal  as 
most  estimates. 

About  the  time  of  the  first  frost  or  about  the 
full  of  the  moon  in  September,  the  Blue-winged 
Teal  begins  to  migrate  to  the  southland  for  the 
winter.  At  this  time  the  movement  is  general 
and  by  October  first  scarcely  a  Blue-wing  is 
cleaving  New  England's  skies.  For  a  week  or 
ten  days  at  most  the  flight  is  on  and  during  the 
early  morning  hours  or  just  about  sundown 
those  spots  which  present  attractions  to  the 
black  duck  are  apt  to  receive  a  call  from  his 
small  cousins,  the  teals.  They  will  mix  with 
any  duck  company  they  chance  to  meet,  are  less 
suspicious  than  almost  any  others  of  the  family, 
come  readily  to  wooden  decoys,  and  a  "talking" 
black  duck  toler  is  a  sure  enough  winner  with 
them.  They  thus  afford  great  sport  to  the  wild- 
fowler  and  are  very  popular  with  all  that 
brotherhood  whose  favorite  regalia  are  hip- 
boots  and  old  clothes,  and  whose  chief  joys  in 


308  FEATHERED  GAME 

life  are  "sink-boxes,"  "gun-punts,"  "ten- 
bores,"  and  duck-calls. 

These  kill  much  easier  than  do  most  ducks, — 
No.  8  shot  is  plenty  large  enough  for  them — 
and  they  are  worthy  of  a  place  on  any  man's 
table  when  well  cooked,  or  in  his  cabinet  when 
properly  stuffed — the  two  principal  reasons 
for  their  rapid  decrease  in  our  streams  and 
marshes. 

These,  too,  are  said  to  thrive  well  under  do- 
mestication, though  rather  less  hardy  than  the 
' '  green-wings. ' ' 

THE  SHOVELER,  OR  SPOONBILL  DUCK. 

(Spatula  clypeata.) 

The  Spoonbill  Duck  is  less  hardy  than  the 
average  of  our  waterfowl,  preferring  more 
southern  latitudes.  It  is  a  species  of  wide  dis- 
persion, having  its  representatives  in  nearly 
every  quarter  of  the  world. 

This  duck  is  mainly  a  dweller  in  the  fresh 
water,  only  rare  stragglers  visiting  the  ocean 
and  then  mostly  in  the  migrations.  One  of  the 
most  graceful  among  the  waterfowl  and  a  very 
beautiful   bird  is   the   Shoveler.     Its  flight   is 


as 
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THE  SHOVELER  309 

powerful,  swift  and  well  sustained.  As  to  its 
qualities  as  a  table  bird  it  is  among  the  best. 

With  us  it  is  a  very  uncommon  visitor,  par- 
ticularly in  the  northern  New  England  States, 
like  many  another  of  the  duck  tribe,  thinking 
but  little  of  our  territory.  The  most  of  them 
choose  the  western  and  southern  parts  of  our 
country  for  their  homes.  Have  known  of  a 
small  flock  being  killed  in  the  limits  of  the  city 
of  Portland,  Me.,  in  the  salt  water,  another  on 
one  of  the  outer  chain  of  islands  on  our  coast, 
and  to  these  must  be  added  the  specimens  from 
which  our  drawing  was  made,  shot  on  the  Fal- 
mouth shore  near  Portland,  in  the  waters  of 
Casco  Bay,  and  which  are  now  in  my  collection ; 
apparently  this  is  the  total  for  a  period  of  ten 
years.  In  the  beauty  of  their  plumage,  bril- 
liancy and  perfection  of  their  coloring  these 
last  two  are  the  equals  of  any  specimens  which 
I  have  seen  in  any  collection.  I  do  not  think 
it  will  average  one  Shoveler  a  year  that  is 
taken  in  this  locality,  otherwise  a  good  duck 
country. 

The  Shovelers  breed  throughout  their  range, 
— in  the  New  World  from  the  central  United 
States  over  the  prairies  to  the  Saskatchewan, 


310  FEATHERED  GAME 

making  their  nests  on  the  ground,  of  grass  and 
dry  moss,  and  ordinarily  lay  from  six  to  eight 
eggs ;  these  usually  are  of  a  pale  grayish  green 
color.  They  winter  along  the  southeast  and 
Gulf  coasts  of  the  United  States,  the  West  In- 
dies and  northern  South  America. 

The  drake  in  his  spring  suit  is  a  brilliant  and 
showy  bird,  his  shapely  form  set  off  by  bright 
and  sharply  contrasted  colors.  His  head  and 
neck  are  dark  green,  glossy  and  beautiful  with 
the  sheen  of  purple  and  violet.  Lower  neck,  up- 
per part  of  the  back  and  breast  pure  white,  in 
front  just  rusted  with  the  faintest  tinge  of  cin- 
namon from  below.  The  wing  coverts  sky  blue, 
darkening  toward  the  greater,  those  margining 
the  speculum  pure  white.  Scapulars  blue  on 
the  outer  webs,  striped  with  black  and  white  on 
the  inner  half.  Some  of  the  shorter  scapulars 
are  white.  Speculum  green.  Rump  and  tail 
coverts  both  above  and  below  are  black,  or  a 
rich  dark  green  as  the  light  happens  to  strike 
them.  There  is  a  white  spot  on  each  side  at 
the  root  of  the  tail.  Below,  lower  breast  and 
abdomen  deep  chestnut  with  a  purplish  bloom 
to  the  feathers.  On  the  flanks  a  few  fine  dusky 
lines   across   the  tips  of  the   feathers.    Wing 


THE  SHOVELER  311 

quills  and  central  feathers  of  the  tail  dusky; 
outer  tail  feathers  silvery  gray  or  white.  Bill 
blackish,  about  two  and  three-quarters  inches 
long  and  one  and  one-quarter  inches  wide  at  the 
broadest  part  which  is  near  the  tip.  Feet  light 
orange  and  small  in  proportion  to  the  size  of  the 
bird,  as  becomes  an  aristocrat  among  water- 
fowl. Iris  bright  orange,  almost  red,  in  the 
male ;  in  the  female  yellow. 

The  female  is  not  widely  different  from  the 
female  mallard  in  her  coloring  except  for  the 
bluish  cast  of  the  wing  coverts,  but,  of  course, 
may  be  at  once  distinguished  by  the  remarkable 
bill.  Her  wing  markings  are  much  like  the 
drake's  though  not  quite  so  brilliant.  Head  and 
neck  brownish  yellow  with  dusky  specklings. 
Throat  pale  buff.  Faint  traces  of  the  chestnut 
below.     Feet  and  legs  paler  than  male's. 

These  birds  in  their  breeding  dress  are  not 
common  here ;  as  they  are  usually  taken  in  the 
fall,  the  only  legitimate  shooting  season,  they 
are  not  nearly  so  brilliant  as  when  in  the  spring 
plumage,  the  fall  dress  being  a  much  soberer 
suit  than  the  wedding  garments.  Perhaps 
the  bird's  own  mood  has  taken  on  a  different 
hue. 


312  FEATHERED  GAME 

The  length  of  this  species  is  from  seventeen 
to  twenty  inches;  the  extent  from  thirty-two  to 
thirty-five  inches. 


THE  PINTAIL.    THE  SPEIGTAIL. 

(Dafila  acuta.) 

It  is  a  great  pity  that  we  so  seldom  capture 
the  Pintail,  for  he  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
of  the  ducks  as  well  as  a  fine  bird  at  the  table. 
He  is  a  great  favorite  with  the  sportsman  wher- 
ever he  is  found,  for  the  high  order  of  shooting 
skill  necessary  to  stop  him  in  his  flight  is  justly 
appreciated. 

There  is  no  member  of  the  duck  tribe  so 
gracefully  made  or  built  upon  such  clipper  lines 
as  is  this  bird  and  he  is  one  of  the  fleetest  of 
wing  of  all  his  family.  When  under  way  he  is 
indeed  a  flyer,  going  at  a  remarkable  rate  of 
speed.  The  Pintail's  flight  will  at  once  remind 
the  bay  gunner  of  that  of  the  "old  squaw,"  so 
well  known  along  the  Atlantic  coast.  The  same 
chain  lightning  speed  and  darting  and  wheeling 
evolutions  are  common  to  both  species.  The 
speed  of  either  of  these  is  far  greater  than  the 


THE  PINTAIL  313 

average  duck  can  hope  to  attain,  for  estimates 
give  both  birds  credit  for  ability  to  make  ninety 
miles  an  hour! 

Shy  and  cautious  in  the  extreme,  the  Pintails 
are  seldom  caught  napping,  and  seem  to  have 
but  one  failing  in  their  tactics:  They  are  apt 
to  become  confused  if  suddenly  alarmed,  when 
the  flock  bunches  closely  as  they  jump  straight 
up  into  the  air,  leaping  from  earth  or  water  as 
though  thrown  up  by  a  powder  blast,  just  as  the 
black  duck  does  when  it  starts  up  from  the 
marsh  in  a  hurry.  This  is  the  one  time  when 
the  Pintail  is  ungraceful,  with  his  long  neck 
cork-screwing  and  almost  tying  itself  into  knots 
in  his  excitement.  If  wounded  it  is  a  very  skill- 
ful skulker,  and  while  not  a  great  submarine 
navigator,  can,  by  partially  immersing  its  body 
and  laying  its  long  neck  down  on  the  water,  the 
tactics  of  a  wounded  goose,  disclaim  any  inten- 
tion of  attracting  unnecessary  notice  to  its 
movements.  It  is  wary  about  coming  to  decoys 
and  usually  makes  several  circuits  of  the  neigh- 
borhood in  search  of  the  reason  for  the  tolers' 
presence  before  trusting  them  implicitly.  In 
fact,  since  good  company  always  benefits,  the 


314  FEATHERED  GAME 

Pintail  learns  caution  and  is  otherwise  mentally 
improved  by  his  intimate  acquaintance  with  the 
black  duck. 

The  bird  is  a  delicate  and  cleanly  feeder.  It 
gets  its  food  in  the  shallows,  in  its  endeavors 
to  bring  hidden  good  things  to  the  surface,  put- 
ting its  long  neck  down  to  the  bottom  and  wrig- 
gling its  sternpost  in  the  air  as  the  rules  of 
" river  duck"  table  etiquette  compel.  Its  own 
choice  of  food  is  small  frogs,  vegetable  matter 
and  the  delicacies  of  the  marsh  dweller's  bill 
of  fare. 

The  Pintail  is  much  more  common  on  the 
fresh  water  of  the  interior  and  throughout  the 
western  country  generally  than  on  the  coast  line 
of  New  England.  Save  during  the  migrations 
it  is  rarely  seen  on  the  salt  water,  yet  the  speci- 
mens from  which  the  accompanying  drawing 
was  made  were  killed  in  some  of  the  severest 
winter  weather  in  the  swell  of  the  broad  Atlan- 
tic. They  were  shot  at  night  from  a  flock  of 
seven  as  they  flew  past  a  rocky  islet  where  two 
gunners  were  creeping  upon  some  black  ducks 
which  were  feeding  by  moonlight.  During  the 
same  week  a  few  mallard  drakes  were  killed  in 
the  same  neighborhood,  these,  too,  in  full  breed- 


j-J 

< 

h- 


THE  PINTAIL  315 

ing  plumage.  The  Pintails  were  great  mys- 
teries to  the  fishermen-gunners  who  shot  them. 
They  were  the  first  of  that  species  that  they  had 
seen  in  nearly  forty  years  of  gunning  on  the 
coast,  where  deep  water  ducks  had  been  their 
principal  game. 

The  Pintail  breeds  from  the  northern  States 
of  the  Union  as  far  to  the  north,  probably,  as 
does  any  duck  of  the  fresh  water.  It  is  a  citi- 
zen of  almost  any  part  of  the  northern  hemi- 
sphere and  wherever  found  is  much  prized  by 
duck  shooters.  Though  not  considered  numer- 
ous anywhere  in  the  east,  certainly  their  most 
natural  dwelling  place  would  be  in  the  lakes 
and  ponds  of  the  Maine  woods  where  they  may 
be  more  abundant  in  the  breeding  season  than 
generally  supposed.  It  winters  on  the  coast 
line  of  the  South  Atlantic  States,  and  on  the 
Gulf  coast  to  Central  America. 

In  the  acquaintance  of  most  gunners,  aside 
from  the  seaf owl,  which  from  their  greater  num- 
bers are  better  known,  there  are  very  few  kinds 
of  ducks ;  and  in  this  somewhat  uncertain  knowl- 
edge any  webfoot  of  doubtful  pedigree,  which 
is  not  plainly  wood  duck,  black  duck,  mallard 
or  teal,  is  lumped  into  the  general  family  of 


316  FEATHERED  GAME 

"gray  duck."  This  may  mean  the  gadwall, 
(when  they  get  him,  which  is  all  too  seldom 
here)  pintail,  widgeon,  even  the  "ruddy,"  and, 
were  it  not  that  nature  has  named  him  so  plainly 
in  giving  him  his  chestnut  braincase,  the  red- 
head, too,  would  have  been  placed  in  the  same 
category.  It  is  not  uncommon  to  have  a  gunner 
mention  "so  many  (or  perhaps  it  should  be  'so 
few')  gray  ducks"  in  enumerating  the  results 
of  his  day's  shooting,  and  in  most  cases  when 
the  bird  is  produced  it  proves  to  be  a  female 
or  a  young  male  Pintail. 

In  the  favored  regions  of  the  West  where  the 
spring  and  fall  nights  of  ducks  are  made  in 
flocks  of  thousands,  and  where  the  shallow  pools 
and  prairie  lakes  are  often  nearly  hidden  by 
the  companies  of  winged  tourists,  the  Pintail 
is  one  of  the  most  common  birds.  It  is  dis- 
tributed all  over  the  North  American  continent 
and  is  also  found  in  corresponding  latitudes  of 
Europe  and  Asia, — a  universal  favorite. 

To  the  average  man,  whose  acquaintance  with 
the  duck  family  is  confined  to  the  noisy  wad- 
dlers  seen  in  the  horse-ponds  and  barnyards 
through  the  rural  districts,  the  agile  grace  and 
lithe  movements  of  their  wild  relatives  would 


THE  PINTAIL  317 

be  a  revelation.  The  beautiful  plumage  and 
trim  lines  of  the  wildfowl  would  surprise  him 
greatly.  Among  these  the  Pintail  drake  is  in 
the  front  rank.  He  is  a  beautiful  fellow  with  a 
brilliant  though  not  gaudy  dress.  His  head  and 
upper  neck  are  a  deep  brown,  showing  in  differ- 
ent lights  a  bronze-like  sheen  with  glossy  green 
and  purple  tints.  A  line  of  snowy  white  run- 
ning up  on  the  back  of  the  neck  on  each  side 
of  the  central  strip  of  black  which  extends 
downward  into  the  gray  of  the  back  and  wing 
coverts.  Lower  neck  in  front,  breast  and  under 
parts  of  snowy  whiteness,  save  on  the  flanks 
where  there  are  fine  dusky  pencillings  as  on  the 
back,  and  the  crissum  which  is  jet  black,  sharply 
and  cleanly  defined  against  the  surrounding 
white.  Back  silvery  gray  or  whitish,  finely  and 
evenly  barred  with  irregular  wavy  black  lines. 
The  scapulars  and  tertiaries  striped  lengthwise 
with  black,  whitish  and  silver  gray.  Speculum 
a  greenish-  or  coppery-violet,  framed  about  in 
black,  tawny  and  white  borders.  Tail  feathers 
yellowish  gray,  long  central  feathers  black.  In 
length  the  bird  varies  from  twenty-five  to  thirty 
inches,  according  to  the  development  of  the  tail 
feathers.    In  extent  he  is  from  thirty-four  to 


318  FEATHERED  GAME 

thirty-six  inches.  Iris  brown.  Feet  bluish 
gray  with  dusky  webs.  Bill  blackish.  During 
the  moulting  season  he  puts  on  a  dress  like  the 
female's  but  darker  and  still  showing  the  copj 
pery  speculum. 

The  female  is  smaller  and  less  showily 
dressed ;  principally  dull  yellowish  brown  for  a 
body  color,  this  mottled  with  dark  brown  and 
dusky,  the  dark  colors  on  the  centres  of  the 
feathers.  Speculum  of  duller  tones,  and  but 
little  different  from  other  feathering  of  the 
wing,  perhaps  from  its  less  attractive  setting. 
She  lacks  the  lengthened  feathers  of  the  tail  but 
may  be  known  at  once  by  her  slender  neck  and 
race-horse  lines.  In  his  first  season  the  young 
drake,  as  the  country  people  say,  "  takes  after 
his  mother,"  and  aside  from  his  lustrous  specu- 
lum is  hard  to  distinguish  from  her. 


THE  WOOD  DUCK.  BRIDAL  DUCK. 
SUMMER  DUCK. 

(Aix  sponsa.) 

Among  the  waterfowl  of  all  America  the  lit- 
tle Wood  Duck  may  claim  the  precedence  of 
grace  and  beauty.     Few  birds  indeed  may  equal 


THE  WOOD  DUCK  319 

him  in  elegance  of  form  and  motion,  and  none 
of  our  other  ducks  can  compare  with  him  in 
beautiful  coloring  and  plumage.  Except  the 
mandarin  duck  of  the  far  east  no  member  of  the 
family  approaches  him  in  the  rainbow  bright- 
ness of  his  hues.  They  nest  anywhere  through- 
out the  United  States  and  a  little  beyond  to  the 
north. 

They  bred  in  abundance  in  the  lake  region 
of  Maine,  and  were  surely  second  in  point  of 
numbers  in  these  waters  as  elsewhere  on  the 
fresh  water  in  New  England,  only  the  black  duck 
being  more  numerous.  I  say  were,  for  they 
have  become  greatly  reduced  in  numbers  within 
the  last  few  years.  This  is,  no  doubt,  in  great 
measure  due  to  their  "fatal  gift  of  beauty," 
though  their  flesh,  also,  has  a  flavor  that  is  deli- 
cate beyond  that  of  most  wild  fowl.  They  have 
become  so  scarce  that  it  seems  that  shooting 
them  should  be  prohibited  for  a  term  of  years 
if  we  would  prevent  their  total  extinction.  Let 
us  act  before  it  is  too  late,  and  so  prevent  this 
irreparable  loss. 

These  little  creatures  still  brighten  with  their 
presence  some  of  our  inland  streams,  flitting 
with    graceful     ease     among    the     interlacing 


320  FEATHERED  GAME 

branches  of  spruce  and  alder  where  you  scarce 
would  think  a  bird  could  pass,  or  walking  among 
the  boughs  as  lightly  and  as  blithely  as  any  of 
the  small  warblers.  Beneath  flows  the  sluggish 
current  along  whose  shady  edges,  in  waving  cat- 
tails or  rankly  growing  grass  is  an  abundance 
of  the  food  they  love  best. 

The  traveler  on  our  summer  lakes,  paddling 
his  noiseless  way  over  still  waters  and  along 
forest-margined  shores,  when  he  comes  sudden- 
ly into  their  bends  and  coves  may  chance  upon 
the  family  comfortably  snuggling  down  on  a 
fallen  tree  reaching  out  into  the  water.  The 
congregation  is  apt  to  disperse  without  cere- 
mony— those  ashore  running  into  the  woods, 
those  on  the  log  or  water  rising  into  the  air  with 
clatter  and  startled  cries,  shooting  over  the  tree- 
tops  like  stray  fragments  of  a  rainbow, — and 
in  two  seconds  he  is  alone  with  only  a  few  idly 
drifting  feathers  in  the  ripples  on  the  water  to 
tell  of  his  departed  friends.  Soon  they  will 
drop  back  over  the  encircling  woods  in  twos 
and  threes  to  revisit  their  favorite  resting  place. 

Perhaps  if  you  have  lived  in  ' '  the  back  coun- 
try" of  New  England,  in  the  months  of  April 
and  May  you  have  had  the  good  fortune  to  see 


THE  WOOD  DUCK  321 

the  Wood  Ducks  come  and  search  the  forest  for 
suitable  places  for  their  homes.  It  may  be  that, 
closely  hidden,  silent,  motionless,  and  scarcely 
breathing  lest  you  disturb  the  beautiful  visitors, 
you  have  watched  the  birds  flit  from  tree  to  tree 
along  the  watercourse;  have  seen  them  peep 
into  the  hollows  of  the  dead  stubs  to  see  if  the 
interiors  were  dry,  cosy  and  suitable  to  hold 
the  treasures  which  their  fond  hopes  promise 
them.  Anxious  and  eager,  they  squeeze  their 
lithe  bodies  through  each  narrow  opening  and 
inspect  the  inner  chambers  with  all  the  care  of 
a  newly-made  bride  on  her  first  "house-hunt- 
ing" expedition,  and  when  at  last  one  finds  a 
spot  which  seems  fitting  how  quickly  it  is  com- 
municated to  the  other!  At  once  the  two  set 
to  work  to  furnish  the  snug  little  home,  enlarg- 
ing the  entrance  and  smoothing  down  interior 
angles  and  corners.  Soon  all  is  prepared  to  re- 
ceive the  eggs,  and  anon  the  full  number  is 
ready  for  the  hatching.  This  plucky  little 
knight,  ordinarily  the  gentlest  of  creatures,  is 
now  brimful  of  fight  if  he  is  disturbed  in  his 
home  by  any  other  of  his  kind,  and  there  is  a 
good  prospect  for  trouble  if  the  intruder  does 
not  leave  at  once. 


322  FEATHERED  GAME 

When  the  ducklings  have  arrived  and  gained 
a  little  strength  the  parent  bird  takes  them  in 
her  beak  and  carries  them  to  the  nearest  pond, 
unless,  as  is  often  the  case,  the  nest  overhangs 
the  water,  when  she  saves  herself  this  trouble 
by  simply  pushing  them  overboard.  Then  she 
shows  them  how  to  get  a  living.  There  are 
often  a  dozen  in  a  family,  so  that  it  is  fortunate 
that  they  have  only  to  reach  out  and  take  what 
they  want  to  eat,  otherwise  the  mother  might 
have  a  hard  time  of  it  in  providing  for  her  nu- 
merous progeny,  for  the  male  bird  usually  de- 
serts his  mate  at  this  time,  leaving  to  her  all  the 
family  cares.  The  drake  spends  the  summer 
moulting  season  away  from  home  with  other 
recreant  husbands,  and  is  hardly  to  be  recog- 
nized as  the  same  gaudy  bird  of  the  spring. 

About  the  first  of  September,  the  young  birds 
having  by  this  time  become  well  grown  and 
strong  and  the  males  again  joining  the  flocks, 
the  Wood  Ducks  begin  to  scatter  about  from 
their  breeding  grounds,  a  few  at  a  time,  the 
main  body  waiting  until  colder  weather  forces 
them  from  their  summer  homes,  when  they  start 
for  their  winter  quarters  in  the  southern  tiers 
of    States,    occasionally    going    beyond.     They 


THE  WOOD  DUCK  323 

seldom  unite  in  any  large  flocks,  the  number 
generally  ranging  from  ten  to  twelve  in  a  bunch, 
the  little  party  commonly  consisting  of  one  fam- 
ily. Our  little  bird  is  rather  exclusive;  know- 
ing his  high  position  in  waterfowl  society  he 
will  seldom  travel  with  any  other  species  and 
rarely  notices  decoys. 

They  are  not  so  hardy  and  "hard-lived" 
as  most  of  the  ducks,  but  when  "wing-tipped" 
are  most  difficult  to  capture,  especially  in  the 
brushy  streams,  diving  and  making  their  way 
under  water  to  the  shore,  then  running  stealth- 
ily away, — like  the  black  duck,  often  hiding  in 
holes  in  the  ground  or  crawling  into  brush- 
heaps, — so  that  unless  a  dog  is  on  their  track 
they  will  commonly  escape. 

The  flesh  of  this  bird  is  the  tenderest  and 
sweetest  of  any  of  the  duck  family,  and  they  are 
usually  extremely  fat  in  the  fall  after  their  sum- 
mer's diet  of  frogs,  snails,  grains  and  the  ten- 
der shoots  of  the  water  plants. 

It  is  rarely  that  a  Wood  Duck  is  taken  on  the 
salt  water,  though  often  visiting  the  fresh  ponds 
on  the  seashore.  In  one  place  which  has  more 
Wood  Ducks  to  its  credit  than  any  other  in  our 
neighborhood  the  pond  in  which  they  are  shot  is 


324  FEATHERED  GAME 

not  more  than  four  hundred  yards  from  the 
open  ocean,  placed  at  the  end  of  a  rocky  cape 
that  projects  far  out  into  the  sea,  and  because 
of  this  situation  it  is  a  noted  stopping  place  for 
wildfowl  of  all  kinds. 

The  drake  in  his  breeding  dress  is  attired 
thus:  head  and  crest  dark  green,  irridescent 
with  changeable  purple  hues;  a  fine  line  of 
white  from  bill  above  the  eye  to  the  back  of  the 
head;  another  from  the  eye  to  the  nape;  an 
area  of  white  on  the  chin  and  throat,  spreading 
on  each  side  of  the  head  and  dividing,  one 
branch  going  upward  behind  the  eye,  the  other 
almost  meeting  its  fellow  on  the  other  side,  thus 
nearly  encircling  the  neck.  The  dark  colors  of 
the  head  and  crest  running  down  the  back  of 
the  neck  into  the  dark  brownish  green  and  pur- 
plish tinges  of  the  back.  Speculum  green. 
Scapulars  glossy  black,  purplish  and  green  with 
the  change  of  view  point;  primaries  purplish, 
whitening  on  the  outer  webs  near  the  tips. 
Eump  and  tail  coverts  glossy  black.  Some  long 
plumes  of  deep  crimson  shade  at  the  sides  of  the 
base  of  the  tail.  The  lower  throat  and  breast 
deep  purplish  chestnut,  growing  paler  as  it 
merges  into  the  white  of  the  under  parts,  and 


THE  WOOD  DUCK  325 

dotted  with  innumerable  broad  arrowheads  of 
white,  arranged  in  regular  order,  growing 
larger  and  more  numerous  as  the  chestnut  shade 
grows  paler  until  thus  the  entire  area  has  be- 
come white.  A  large  crescent  of  white  in  front 
of  the  wing,  this  edged  with  jet  black.  Below 
pure  white,  the  sides  growing  pale  yellow,  finely 
waved  with  black,  these  lines  becoming  broader 
and  darker  toward  the  flanks,  where  the  ends 
of  the  flank  feathers  are  finished  with  broad 
zones  of  black  and  white.  Bill  pale  pinkish, 
bright  red  at  the  base,  black  at  the  nail  and 
along  the  ridge.  Feet  orange ;  iris  red.  Many 
specimens  taken  in  October  are  as  brightly  col- 
ored as  in  the  spring  months.  Have  seen  many 
adult  males  in  the  fall  as  brilliant  as  when  in 
their  wedding  dress. 

The  female  is  not  so  beautiful  as  her  mate, 
having  little  or  no  crest,  although  the  feathers 
on  the  nape  are  somewhat  elongated.  No  such 
brilliancy  of  marking  on  the  back  or  wings,  the 
purple  being  much  duller  in  hue.  Head  and 
neck  grayish  brown,  darkening  on  the  crown; 
chin,  near  base  of  bill  and  around  the  eyes, 
whitish.  Below  yellowish  brown  mottled  with 
dusky ;  belly  growing  white.     Bill  dusky.     Feet 


326  FEATHERED  GAME 

a  dull  dusky  yellow,  webs  even  darker.  Even 
though  plainer  in  dress  than  her  mate  she  is 
withal  a  beautiful  duck. 

The  length  of  this  species  averages  from 
eighteen  to  twenty  inches;  extent  from  twenty- 
six  to  twenty-eight  inches. 

The  Wood  Duck  is  said  to  breed  readily  in 
captivity  and  to  be  easily  domesticated.  It 
should  surely  become  very  popular  among 
breeders  of  fancy  fowl  because  of  its  beautiful 
plumage  if  for  no  other  reason. 


THE  RED-HEAD. 

(Aythya  americana.) 

Not  often  is  the  Red-head  taken  in  northern 
New  England  waters;  a  little  more  common 
along  the  southern  coast,  and  gradually  in- 
creasing in  numbers  southward  until  in  the 
Chesapeake  and  Delaware  bays  it  is  one  of  the 
commonest  of  the  ducks.  It  is  found  during 
some  season  of  the  year  more  or  less  abun- 
dantly all  over  North  America  and  is  every- 
where held  in  highest  esteem. 

The  breeding  birds  are  generally  at  home  in 
the  far  north,  mainly  to  the  west  and  northwest 


Q 
< 

Q 
w 

OS 


THE  RED-HEAD  327 

of  Hudson  Bay,  the  great  duck  nursery  of  the 
New  World,  though  a  comparatively  small 
number  breed  in  the  northern  States  of  the 
Union,  and  in  the  Rocky  Mountain  region  much 
farther  south.  There  is  small  doubt  that  many 
birds,  especially  of  the  duck  tribe,  which  are 
credited  with  breeding  only  in  the  far-off  north, 
occasionally  nest  in  the  cool  heights  of  the 
mountains  in  much  lower  latitudes. 

Closely  resembling  the  canvasback  in  appear- 
ance and  fully  equal  to  this  much-lauded  bird 
in  table  qualities  when  the  same  opportunities 
are  given,  the  Red-head  is  often  sold  in  the  mar- 
kets as  his  highly  esteemed  relative.  The  like- 
ness between  the  two  birds  might,  indeed,  de- 
ceive the  casual  observer,  but  no  one  at  all  fa- 
miliar with  them  should  ever  mistake  one  for 
the  other.  The  short  bill,  rounded  and  high- 
arched  skull  of  americana,  together  with  the 
somewhat  puffy  appearance  of  the  feathers  of 
its  head,  are  widely  different  from  the  long, 
sloping  profile  of  the  canvasback,  where  the 
lines  of  the  bill  and  head  are  nearly  one.  The 
Red-head  is  also  considerably  darker  in  his  gen- 
eral coloration  and  has  an  orange-yellow  iris. 
The  canvasback 's   iris  is   red.     Still  the  pur- 


328  FEATHERED  GAME 

chaser  has  no  cause  for  complaint  at  the  Red- 
head's food  qualities.  In  the  waters  where  the 
Red-head  and  canvasback  are  most  eagerly 
sought  and  where  the  latter  has  won  its  high 
reputation  as  a  dainty  bit  for  the  table  their 
diet  of  wild  celery  is  in  the  main  responsible 
for  their  excellence  of  flesh.  Let  us  notice  that 
the  Red-head  is  equally  as  good  as  the  canvas- 
back  in  these  places  and  on  the  same  food,  and 
that  neither  one  is  to  be  preferred  before  some 
of  the  "river  ducks"  in  other  localities  where 
the  wild  celery  has  been  omitted  from  Mother 
Nature's  menu.  Why  should  not  the  widgeon 
also  rank  as  high?  From  his  predatory  habits 
he  lives  as  well  as  either  one  of  them  in  celery 
time. 

The  Red-head  is  eagerly  hunted  in  all  the 
waters  where  it  is  found.  It  comes  readily  to 
decoys  and  it  is  over  these  that  most  of  them 
are  shot.  They  kill  hard  and  will  carry  off  a 
heavy  dose  of  lead.  A  wounded  bird  should  be 
finished  at  once,  for  a  cripple  is  nearly  always 
lost  to  the  gunner  who  permits  it  to  get  under 
water,  as  the  Red-head  is  a  good  swimmer  and 
expert  as  a  diver,  though  falling  far  short  of 
the  submarine  performances  of  various  ducks 


THE  RED-HEAD  329 

more  strictly  to  be  termed  "sea  ducks,"  and 
somewhat  contemptuously  called  "trash  ducks" 
or  even  "flying  fishes,"  by  the  more  aristo- 
cratic among  wildfowlers. 

This  is  one  of  the  commonest  of  the  ducks 
in  the  wild  rice  sloughs  of  the  West,  and  it  is 
often  shot  in  the  immense  corn-  and  grain- 
fields  of  those  sections,  which  they  visit  to  feed 
upon  the  ripened  seeds.  They  will  fly  long  dis- 
tances to  get  a  corn  dinner.  Though,  when  it 
may  choose,  the  Red-head  is  a  vegetable  feeder, 
if  a  breakfast  of  this  sort  is  not  to  be  had  the 
bird  will  content  itself  with  a  meal  of  young 
frogs  or  tadpoles  if  it  can  find  them.  He  is 
mainly  a  diving  fowl  and  a  bottom  feeder,  espe- 
cially so  in  the  waters  of  the  northeast,  where 
as  a  rule  we  know  him  as  a  salt  water  dweller, 
or  at  least  a  bird  of  the  river  mouths. 

They  arrive  in  these  latitudes  during  late 
September  or  October,  staying  until  the  increas- 
ing cold  has  effectually  closed  all  fresh  water 
for  the  winter,  when  they  come  into  the  coast 
waters,  working  their  way  southward  to  remain 
until  the  spring  sunshine  opens  again  their 
feeding  grounds  in  the  north.  This  species  is 
more  numerous  on  the  eastern  half  of  our  con- 


330  FEATHERED  GAME 

tinent,  though  fairly  abundant  on  the  Pacific 
coast  during  the  winter  months. 

The  Red-head  breeds  far  north  in  the  Fur 
Countries  making  its  nest  upon  the  ground 
and  lining  it  with  down  and  soft  grass.  The 
number  of  eggs  is  usually  eight,  in  color  pale 
buff. 

In  plumage  the  drake  is  the  finer  of  the  pair. 
His  head  and  neck  are  a  bright  chestnut  red 
with  a  sheen  as  of  burnished  copper.  Lower 
neck,  breast,  upper  back,  rump,  and  tail  coverts 
above  and  below  are  blackish.  Back  bluish 
gray,  finely  waved  all  over  with  blackish  lines. 
Flanks  and  sides  much  like  the  back  but  more 
faintly  marked.  For  the  rest  below,  grayish 
white.  "Wing  coverts  bluish  gray.  Speculum 
ashy  gray.  Inside  of  the  wings  mostly  white. 
Wing  quills  and  tail  feathers  dull  bluish  gray 
or  dusky.  Bill  rather  short,  broad  and  flat- 
tened at  the  end  as  compared  with  the  canvas- 
back's,  in  color  dull  bluish  with  a  black  band 
across  the  tip.  Iris  of  male  orange ;  of  the  fe- 
male yellow.  Feet  dull  bluish  with  dusky  webs 
and  black  nails. 

The  female  is  marked  much  like  the  male,  but 
the  head  and  neck  are  of  dull  brownish  hue, 


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THE  CANVASBACK  331 

grayer  on  the  cheeks  and  behind  the  eyes.     The 
back,  also  is  more  brownish  in  tone. 

The  length  of  this  species  is  from  nineteen 
to  twenty-one  inches ;  the  extent  from  thirty  to 
thirty-two  inches. 


THE  CANVASBACK. 

(Aythya  vallisneria.) 

The  duck  slayer  of  New  England  will  have 
little  acquaintance  with  this  bird  unless  he  is 
lucky  enough  to  travel  west  or  south  for  his 
shooting,  for  this  fowl  of  savory  reputation  is 
a  very  unusual  sight  in  our  home  waters. 
Widely  dispersed,  dwelling  in  nearly  every  part 
of  North  America,  they  avoid  New  England  and 
the  northeastern  corner  of  our  continent  very 
carefully,  as  do  so  many  other  feathered  mi- 
grants, so  that  we  of  these  sections  must  con- 
tent ourselves  with  other  game,  for  there  is 
small  likelihood  of  our  getting  a  chance  at  the 
"aristocratic  Canvasback." 

Of  its  life  and  habits,  aside  from  its  shot- 
dodging  during  the  fall  and  winter,  we  know 
very  little  save  that  it  occasionally  nests  in  the 
northern  States  of  the  Union,  in  California,  and 


332  FEATHEEED  GAME 

at  various  points  among  the  Rocky  mountains. 
The  greater  number  nest  far  away  in  the  north, 
perhaps  even  to  the  shores  of  the  Arctic  seas. 
It  is  a  very  fine  bird  from  the  sportsman's 
standpoint,  usually  decoying  well,  always  fly- 
ing fast  and  carrying  lead  off  bravely. 

About  the  month  of  October  the  Canvasbacks 
begin  to  arrive  in  the  waters  of  the  Atlantic 
seaboard  and  scatter  all  along  the  coast  line 
from  Long  Island  Sound  to  Texas.  Some  few 
even  go  to  Central  America.  These  birds  keep 
together  in  large  flocks  both  in  the  migrations 
and  on  the  feeding  grounds.  They  are  said  to 
be  very  wary  and  difficult  of  approach,  placing 
sentinels  during  their  resting  and  their  feeding 
hours.  They  are  expert  swimmers  and  in  their 
feeding  they  dive  constantly,  getting  nearly  all 
their  food  from  the  bottom.  They  can  swim 
long  distances  beneath  the  surface,  and,  like 
the  "surf-"  and  "sea-ducks,"  dive  instantly 
when  wounded,  in  an  attempt  to  escape  under 
water. 

These  are  probably  the  most  highly  valued 
by  the  sportsman  of  any  of  the  duck  family. 
When  after  a  season  of  feeding  on  the  "wild 
celery"  their  flesh  .is  in  prime  condition  they 


THE  CANVASBACK  333 

may  deserve  the  praise  accorded  them,  but  many 
epicures  will  tell  us  that  there  are  several  of 
the  " river  ducks"  of  far  greater  merit  when 
all  are  confined  to  the  usual  duck  diet.  In  such 
case  the  Canvasback  is  said  to  be  a  very  ordi- 
nary table  bird. 

This  species  is  marked  much  like  the  redhead ; 
the  shape  of  the  bill  and  head  differing,  and  the 
general  tone  of  the  bird's  plumage  is  lighter. 
The  bill  of  the  Canvasback  is  blackish,  as  long 
or  longer  than  the  head,  high  at  the  base  and 
rather  narrow  throughout  its  entire  length. 
The  line  of  the  profile  of  bill  and  head  are  al- 
most one,  in  contrast  to  the  bulging  forehead 
and  arching  crest  of  the  redhead.  For  his  col- 
oring, the  male  has  a  red  head, — lacking  the 
loose-feathered  and  puffy  appearance  of  his 
cousin's  topnot, — the  color  brownish  in  tone, 
with  none  of  the  coppery  lustre  shown  by  the 
redhead ;  the  same  color  extends  down  over  the 
upper  neck;  on  the  crown  and  about  the  base 
of  the  bill  darkening  to  dusky  brown.  Above, 
a  light  silver  gray  or  whitish,  with  fine  black 
lines  across  the  feathers,  here  closely  resem- 
bling the  redhead,  as  also  on  the  lower  neck, 
breast  and  upper  back,  the  colors  of  wing  and 


334  FEATHERED  GAME 

body  both  above  and  below  lighter  than  in  the 
redhead.     Iris  red;  feet  grayish  blue. 

The  female's  head  is  colored  a  dingy  brown. 
She  is  everywhere  duller  in  tone  and  plainer  in 
dress  than  is  her  lord.  She  resembles  in  a 
marked  degree  the  female  redhead,  but  may  at 
once  be  distinguished,  if  there  is  any  doubt  as 
to  identity,  by  the  shape  and  color  of  her  bill 
and  her  red-brown  iris,  which  is  not  so  decid- 
edly red  as  in  the  male. 

The  length  of  this  species  is  about  twenty-one 
inches;  the  extent  varies  from  thirty-one  to 
thirty-three  inches. 

GREATER  BLUEBILL.    BROADBILL. 

(Aythya  marila.) 

The  dark,  close-flying  flocks  of  the  Scaup 
Ducks  are  among  the  first  arrivals  on  our  coast 
with  the  approach  of  winter.  Common  enough 
in  the  months  of  cold  weather  and  less  suspi- 
cious of  the  gunner  than  the  average  waterfowl, 
this  guilelessness  often  works  to  their  disadvan- 
tage, so  that  our  markets  are  usually  well  sup- 
plied with  them.  Their  flesh  is  held  in  fair  es- 
teem.    When  they  have  fed  on  a  vegetable  diet 


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GREATER  BLUEBILL  335 

they  are  equal  to  most  ducks  as  a  table  delicacy, 
and  even  when  forced  to  live  upon  the  coarser 
food  from  the  salt  water  their  flesh  does  not  be- 
come so  rank  as  that  of  many  other  species 
under  like  conditions.  A  report  showing  the 
number  of  these  birds  which  are  served  as  can- 
vasbacks  would  probably  furnish  some  surpris- 
ing statistics. 

Inhabiting  the  whole  northern  hemisphere, 
and  mostly  breeding  in  the  remote  wastes  of  the 
Arctic  regions,  the  Greater  Scaup  Ducks,  or 
Greater  Bluebills,  pass  the  winter  season  in 
warmer  latitudes,  wandering  alongshore  as  far 
as  the  Middle  States  and  in  the  interior  going 
even  farther  toward  warm  weather.  In  the  Old 
World  they  winter  in  southern  Europe  and  cen- 
tral Asia. 

Their  nests  are  made  upon  the  ground  in  the 
fashion  common  to  the  ducks,  of  moss  and  soft 
grasses,  and  ordinarily  contain  eight  grayish- 
green  or  drab-colored  eggs.  They  seldom 
breed  within  the  borders  of  the  United  States 
and  are  not  often  found  here  earlier  than  the 
latter  half  of  October. 

Their  table  during  the  winter  season  is  sup- 


336  FEATHERED  GAME 

plied  with  the  mussels  and  animal  food  to  be 
had  in  deep  water,  therefore  of  necessity  they 
are  expert  swimmers  and  divers,  and  though 
apparently  slow  and  heavy  in  getting  under 
way,  are  strong  and  swift  in  flight. 

During  the  migrations  many  are  killed 
throughout  the  west,  though  the  Greater  Blue- 
bill  is  as  a  rule  less  numerous  in  the  interior 
of  the  country  than  is  the  smaller  species. 
When  these  inland  haunts  are  frozen  up  they 
betake  themselves  to  the  coast  waters  where 
the  work  of  destruction  goes  on  until  the  spring 
opens  up  their  only  safe  abode  under  the  Arctic 
skies. 

With  us  of  the  northeast  most  of  the  Blue- 
bills  are  killed  from  the  ''gunning  float,"  the 
gunner  clad  in  a  white  suit  and  the  little  craft 
itself  "dressed  down"  to  the  water's  edge  with 
snow  and  ice  to  represent  a  floating  ice  cake. 
It  is  no  wonder  that  the  poor  victims  are  "de- 
ludered,"  for  it  needs  sharp  eyes  and  close  at- 
tention to  make  out  anything  dangerous  in  an 
object  so  harmless  in  appearance.  There  is 
commonly  little  trouble  in  approaching  within 
easy  range  of  a  flock  if  the  gunner  is  skilled  in 
handling  his  craft,  but  to  get  within  shot  reach 


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LESSER  BLUEBILL  337 

is  not  all,  for  any  duck  which  can  last  out  the 
New  England  winter  will  carry  off  a  good  load 
of  shot,  as  the  bird  must  have  an  abundance  of 
vitality  and  an  extra  heavy  suit  of  underwear 
to  endure  the  climate.  Both  these  our  hero  has. 
The  Bluebill  comes  readily  to  decoys  of  almost 
any  species  of  ducks,  and  fair  shooting  may 
often  be  had  from  a  blind. 

LESSER  BLUEBILL. 

(Aythya  affinis.) 

There  are  two  species  of  this  family,  the 
Greater  and  the  Lesser  Scaup.  The  little  fel- 
low is  a  counterpart  of  his  big  brother,  and  for 
some  time  the  naturalists  of  our  country  were 
in  doubt  as  to  the  propriety  of  considering  more 
than  one  species,  but  the  final  decision  has  been 
that  the  Small  Bluebill  is  properly  distinct. 

The  Lesser  Scaup  is  southern  in  its  range, 
breeding  quite  commonly  in  suitable  localities 
in  the  west,  and  is  known  in  many  districts  as 
the  "Black  Jack."  It  is  possible  that  some 
nest  in  New  England's  remote  corners.  They 
are  not  uncommon  here  during  the  breeding 
season.  In  its  winter  travels  this  species  goes 
a  long  way  farther  into  the  south  than  does 


338  FEATHERED  GAME 

marila,  for  while  many  sojourn  along  the  coasts 
of  the  Middle  Atlantic  States  others  spend  this 
season  among  the  West  India  islands  or  in  Cen- 
tral America.  It  is  my  impression  that  the 
Lesser  Scaup  is  more  often  a  dweller  in  the  in- 
terior than  on  the  salt  water;  certainly  there 
are  ten  Greater  Scaups  taken  in  Casco  and 
Merrymeeting  bays  to  one  of  the  smaller  spe- 
cies. In  nesting  habits,  mode  of  life  and  plum- 
age markings  the  two  are  almost  identical. 
The  Lesser  Scaup  is  entirely  American,  while 
the  Greater  Bluebill  is  a  dweller  in  the  Old 
World  as  well. 

For  their  markings  one  description  will  ap- 
ply to  both  birds,  the  only  difference  in  their 
coloring  being  in  the  shade  of  the  head — in  the 
Greater  Bluebill  the  gloss  is  greenish;  in  the 
Lesser  the  irridescence  gleaming  through  the 
black  is  purplish.  The  head,  neck,  breast  and 
upper  parts  of  the  back  are  black.  Back,  scap- 
ulars, sides  and  flanks  waved  with  zig-zag  pat- 
terns in  fine  black  lines  on  a  silvery  gray 
ground.  Wing  coverts  of  darker  hue  and  less 
clearly  marked,  otherwise  like  the  back.  Spec- 
ulum   white    in    a    black    frame.     Bill    rather 


LESSER  BLUEBILL  339 

broad,  dull  blue  in  color,  and  with  a  black  nail. 
I  think  the  bill  of  the  Lesser  Scaup  averages 
proportionately  wider  than  that  of  the  larger 
species.  Feet  leaden  blue  with  dusky  or  nearly 
black  webs.    Iris  yellow. 

The  female  not  greatly  different  from  her 
mate,  the  jet  black  areas  of  the  head  and  fore 
parts  of  the  body  of  the  maLe  bird  fading  to  a 
dusky  brown  in  her  plumage.  A  whitish  patch 
at  the  base  of  the  bill.  Black  and  white  wavy 
lines  of  back  less  distinctly  shown.  Flanks 
brown,  the  feathers  edged  with  whitish. 

The  length  of  the  Greater  Scaup  ranges  from 
eighteen  to  twenty  inches;  the  extent  from 
thirty-two  to  thirty-four  inches.  In  the  Lesser 
Scaup  the  length  varies  from  fifteen  to  seven- 
teen and  the  extent  from  twenty-seven  to  thirty 
inches. 

In  New  England  the  Greater  Bluebill  is  the 
more  common  bird;  further  south  the  small 
variety  is  about  equally  numerous. 

These  birds  are  also  known  as  Black-Heads, 
Raft  Ducks,  and  Shufflers.  The  name,  ' '  Scaup 
Duck,"  comes  from  their  feeding  on  "scaup," 
broken  shells  and  mussels. 


340  FEATHERED  GAME 


THE  RING-NECKED  DUCK. 

(Aythya  collaris.) 

Closely  allied  to  the  two  last  is  the  Ring- 
necked  Duck.  About  a  medium  between  them 
in  size  and  inhabiting  the  same  range  of  coun- 
try; breeding  from  the  northern  part  of  the 
United  States  into  the  Arctic  regions,  and  in 
their  winter  migrations  often  traveling  to  the 
West  Indies. 

They  build  their  nests  on  the  ground,  lining 
a  shallow  hollow  with  moss  and  dry  grass,  and 
in  this  lay  their  complement  of  eggs,  usually 
eight  in  number,  in  color  a  light  greenish.  This 
species  is  not  at  all  common  in  New  England 
and  is  less  numerous  throughout  the  whole  of 
its  range  than  are  the  Scaups.  I  doubt  if  an 
average  of  one  Ring-necked  Duck  a  year  is 
killed  in  the  State  of  Maine. 

Its  markings  are  as  follows :  Head  and  neck 
of  brilliant  bluish-  or  purplish-black,  with  a 
slight  crest.  Around  the  neck  a  collar  of  deep 
orange  brown  or  chestnut;  lower  neck  and  up- 
per breast  blackish.  Above  blackish,  scapulars 
faintly  waved  with  gray.     Wings  dusky  brown ; 


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THE  WHISTLER  341 

speculum  ashy  bluish  or  grayish.  Below  mostly 
white;  belly  and  flanks  waved  with  black;  cris- 
sum  black.  Bill  black,  edges,  base  and  a  belt 
across  near  the  tip  bluish  gray.  Feet  bluish 
gray  with  black  webs.     Iris  yellow. 

The  female  has  no  collar.  Where  the  male  is 
black  she  is  brownish.  Wing  and  speculum  the 
same  as  in  the  male.  The  bluish  gray  color  of 
the  speculum  is  the  main  point  of  difference  be- 
tween the  female  of  this  species  and  the  females 
of  the  Scaups,  whose  speculum  is  white,  al- 
though females  of  the  present  species  may  be 
slightly  browner  above  and  on  the  flanks. 

Length  of  the  Eing-necked  Duck  from  sixteen 
to  eighteen  inches;  extent  from  twenty-eight  to 
thirty  inches. 


THE  WHISTLER.    GOLDEN-EYED  DUCK. 

(Clangula  americana.) 

This  duck  is  from  fifteen  to  eighteen  inches 
in  length  and  weighs  from  two  to  two  and  one- 
half  pounds.  The  head  and  upper  part  of  the 
neck  are  rich,  dark  green — in  some  lights  al- 
most black,  in  others  glossy  and  metallic  in  its 
lustre.    A  spot  of  white  on  each  side  at  the  base 


342  FEATHERED  GAME 

of  the  bill,  nearly  circular  in  form.  The  crest 
feathers  are  long  and  fluffy,  erected  at  will. 
The  whole  feathering  of  the  head  is  somewhat 
puffy.  Back  and  much  of  the  wings  are  black, 
though  some  of  the  secondaries  and  coverts  are 
white  and  seem  to  make  quite  a  band  of  this 
color  in  the  wing.  Under  parts  white.  Long 
flank  feathers  white  with  a  broad  edging  of 
black.  Rump  and  tail  black.  Bill  greenish 
black.  Feet  and  legs  orange  with  dusky  webs 
and  black  nails.  Iris  bright  golden  yellow, 
whence  the  name,  "Golden-eyed  Duck." 

The  female  is  a  trim  little  lady  with  neat  and 
becoming  attire.  Her  head  dark  chestnut  or 
brown.  A  white  ring  about  the  neck,  and  below 
this  a  second  circle  of  blue-gray  coming  up 
from  the  color  of  the  back.  Below  white,  grow- 
ing dusky  on  the  flanks.  Wings  and  upper 
works  generally,  covered  with  grayish  blue,  the 
edges  of  the  feathers  whitish.  Speculum  white. 
Bill  dusky  brown,  yellow-tipped.  Iris  as  in  the 
male.  The  female  averages  much  smaller  than 
the  male. 

They  are  abundant  throughout  North  Amer- 
ica, and  while  ranging  in  winter  to  the  West  In- 
dies and  Mexico  are  rather  more  common  in  the 


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THE  WHISTLER  343 

higher  latitudes,  and  in  New  England  are  most 
numerous  during  the  cold  weather  when  they 
are  driven  from  the  north  country,  and  on  our 
bays  and  inner  coast  line  they  are  the  most 
common  ducks  of  the  winter  months.  The  spe- 
cies is  widely  distributed,  ranging  all  through 
the  northern  hemisphere — a  citizen  of  Europe, 
Asia  and  America.  While  the  Old  World  va- 
riety may  average  a  trifle  smaller  it  is  proba- 
bly the  same  bird. 

The  Whistler  nests  all  the  way  from  New 
England's  latitude  into  the  Arctic  Circle,  or  at 
least,  as  far  north  as  the  forests  extend.  Many 
rear  their  families  in  the  wild  country  in  the  in- 
terior of  Maine.  Their  nests  are  sometimes 
built  upon  the  ground,  though  more  frequently 
in  the  hollow  "stubs"  of  dead  trees,  the  cavity 
lined  with  down  from  the  breasts  of  the  expect- 
ant parents.  They  lay  from  six  to  ten  eggs,  of 
a  bluish  green  color,  and  larger  than  is  the  rule 
with  birds  of  their  size. 

The  Whistlers  seem  to  be  holding  their  own 
in  the  struggle  for  existence — a  thing  which  can 
be  said  of  few  of  the  duck  family.  There  is 
good  reason  why  they  should,  for  there  are  few 
ducks  so  cautious  and  wary,  placing  sentinels 


344  FEATHERED  GAME 

over  the  flocks  while  feeding,  flying  instantly 
at  an  alarm,  and  only  alighting  a  long  distance 
away.  They  seem  to  know  at  just  what  dis- 
tance a  modern  shotgun  is  effective,  so  that, 
when  the  gunner  is  "sculling"  them  in  winter 
they  keep  a  watchful  eye  upon  that  seeming  ice- 
cake  which  the  coots  and  bluebills  allow  to  ap- 
proach so  readily,  and  as  the  old  drake  Whistler 
looks  over  his  shoulder  at  his  pursuer  he  says 
to  himself,  says  he,  "Three  hundred  yards 
away, — all  right!"  and  down  he  goes  for  an- 
other mouthful,  bobs  up,  sit  up  on  his  tail,  gives 
his  feathers  a  shake  and  takes  another  critical 
survey  of  the  diminishing  distance, — ' l  Two  hun- 
dred yards? — Well  it  grieves  me  greatly  thus 
to  leave  you,  but  I  must  be  going,"  and  off  he 
streaks  it  with  his  swiftly-moving  wings  mak- 
ing a  loud  whistling,  of  course  very  cheering  to 
the  toiler  in  the  float,  who  sits  up  and  listens  as 
it  grows  fainter  and  fainter  until  he  marks  his 
intended  victim  down  a  mile  away,  where  he 
waits  for  the  gunner  to  follow  him  to  be  teased 
some  more.  Their  whistling  may  be  heard  a 
long  distance — certainly  half  a  mile  on  a  still 
day.  The  bird  is  strong-winged  and  swift  of 
flight.     Audubon   claims   that   a  Whistler  can 


THE  WHISTLER  345 

travel  ninety  miles  an  hour.  For  my  part  I 
have  a  very  high  regard  for  Mr.  Whistler's 
abilities,  both  of  wing  and  wit.  I  have  seen 
him  outrun  many  a  charge  of  shot,  and  I  know 
of  no  waterfowl  so  crafty  except  a  black  duck. 

The  New  England  gunner  kills  most  of  his 
Whistlers  during  the  coldest  weather  of  the 
year  when  not  only  the  fresh  waters  are  closed 
but  the  ice  has  formed  solidly  in  the  bays  and 
arms  of  the  sea,  leaving  only  a  breathing  hole 
here  and  there  where  the  swift  currents  will  not 
be  held  in  the  grip  of  winter.  The  gunner, 
dressed  in  a  white  suit, — even  his  gun  barrels 
chalked, — lies  flat  upon  the  snow-covered  ice  at 
the  edge  of  some  such  an  opening,  behind  a 
slight  blind  of  ice  cakes,  or  in  his  float  dragged 
over  the  floe  and  launched  upon  the  water 
within.  He  places  decoys  at  the  proper  dis- 
tances, arranging  them  in  the  water  and  along 
the  edge  of  the  ice,  and  takes  what  his  fortune 
may  send  him  in  the  way  of  sport. 

The  Whistler  is  said  not  to  decoy  well,  but 
that  has  not  been  my  experience.  I  do  not 
know  a  more  certain  method  of  bringing  a  flock 
of  these  ducks  to  the  decoys  on  a  whistlerless 
morning  than  for  the  sportsman  to  lay  down  his 


346  FEATHERED  GAME 

gun,  and,  stepping  out  of  his  blind,  to  run 
briskly  away  for  a  hundred  yards  just  to  shake 
loose  the  icicles  in  his  blood.  About  the  time 
he  turns  at  the  end  of  his  breath  he  will  see  a 
nice  bunch  of  Whistlers  just  leaving  his  decoys. 
This  rule  is  invariable.  Moral:  Don't  do  it. 
You  may  freeze  to  death,  but  stick  by  the  blind. 
I  think  that,  given  a  good  flock  of  decoys  and  a 
good  position,  the  rest  lies  more  in  the  ability  of 
the  sportsman  to  keep  quiet  and  hidden  than  in 
any  unwillingness  of  the  birds  to  decoy.  The 
Whistler  is  very  quick  to  see  a  movement  or 
perceive  any  little  matter  out  of  the  common. 
When  he  does  not  like  the  appearance  of  things 
he  can  not  be  induced  to  come  anywhere  near. 
The  gunner,  too,  must  pay  the  strictest  atten- 
tion and  shoot  the  instant  his  game  is  in  the 
right  place,  for  once  he  is  seen  or  treachery 
suspected  they  go  climbing  into  the  sky  like 
rockets. 

A  fair  amount  of  sport  may  be  had  in  this 
way  if  the  gunner  can  endure  the  cold,  for  it  is 
a  pretty  rugged  kind  of  amusement.  To  get 
some  shooting  on  a  winter's  morning  it  is  only 
necessary  to  set  a  string  of  decoys  off  some 
ledge  of  rocks  where  an  open  space  of  water 


en 

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THE  WHISTLER  347 

gives  a  chance  for  a  duck  to  get  his  breakfast. 
Be  sure  you  are  completely  hidden  and  keep 
quiet, — the  golden  rule  of  all  duck  shooting. 

Just  before  sun-up  the  first  of  ocean's  toilers 
begin  to  appear, — the  gulls  going  lazily  across 
the  water  to  some  inshore  feeding  ground  for 
their  morning  meal.  Seaward  the  sombre 
cloudbank  reddens  with  the  coming  light  and  the 
islands  become  more  than  the  shadowy  masses 
which  they  have  been  ever  since  our  arrival.  A 
faint  noise  like  a  high-pitched  whistle  sounded 
rapidly  and  continuously,  calls  your  attention 
skyward  where  a  single  duck  is  speeding  his 
way  past,  bound  up  the  bay.  Suddenly  he 
sights  the  decoys,  black  specks  upon  a  mirror  of 
polished  steel,  swings  in  a  wide  circle  to  lee- 
ward and  with  set  wings  drops  out  of  the  air 
with  swift,  slanting  flight.  Eight  in  among  the 
"tolers"  he  comes  with  a  splash,  then,  discov- 
ering the  cheat  leaps  into  the  air  to  escape. 
Even  as  he  spreads  his  wings  a  gun  roars  forth 
its  summons  to  surrender,  and  in  the  obedience 
he  may  not  deny  the  poor  bird  topples  into  the 
sea.  The  float  is  launched  and  the  prize 
brought  ashore.  The  gunner  crouches  again  in 
his  ice-  and  sea-weed-covered  blind  just  as  a 


348  FEATHERED  GAME 

bunch  of  a  dozen  birds  come  hurrying  in  from 
outside.  They  mean  to  pass  by  two  hundred 
yards  away,  but  one  duck  sees  the  decoys,  darts 
from  the  main  body,  sets  its  wings  and  comes 
with  a  rush.  Another  sees  the  first  one  and  fol- 
lows suit;  then  another,  and  another,  until  the 
whole  flock  turns  and  comes  in  also.  Just  as 
they  are  about  to  settle  in  the  water  some  old 
drake  catches  the  glimmer  of  a  gun-barrel,  or 
sees  the  gunner's  eyelids  move,  or  hears  his 
heart  beat,  or  merely  takes  alarm  on  general 
principles  and  forthwith  begins  to  back  water 
with  his  engines  and  then  to  climb  for  a  higher 
altitude.  The  rest  hesitate,  then  as  the  gun- 
ner rises,  away  in  every  direction  like  the  burst- 
ing of  a  bombshell,  goes  the  flock  of  thoroughly 
startled  ducks,  no  two  together.  Choose  your 
birds  quickly  and  aim  well !  Put  plenty  of  shot 
into  him  or  he  will  surely  escape,  for  he  is  a 
rugged  little  rustler.  The  air  is  full  of  whiz- 
zing wings  and  merry  whistlings,  yet  before  one 
can  think  twice  they  are  only  a  memory  and  half 
a  mile  away  the  stragglers  are  uniting  again. 

Another  collection  of  black  specks  out  toward 
the  open  sea  begins  to  be  heard  making  its  mu- 
sic, coming  ever  nearer  and  the  noise  growing 


THE  "WHISTLER  349 

louder  and  louder.  Down!  Down!  Just  one 
eye  over  the  top  of  the  rock  blind  and  mind  you 
don 't  wink  that  eye !  There !  They  have  seen 
the  "tolers"  and  here  they  come!  Now  they 
set  their  wings  and  drop  like — like — well,  like 
Whistlers  that  mean  business.  Just  as  the 
leaders  hover  over  the  decoys  with  wings  out- 
spread let  go  at  them,  and  as  they  rise  the  other 
barrel  speaks.  Well  done!  A  few  more 
chances  like  that  and  we  shall  make  a  bag  of 
birds. 

These  ducks  are  most  uncertain  fellows  and 
cannot  be  judged  by  any  set  rule  or  precedent. 
You  may  have  the  finest  flock  of  decoys  ever 
seen  and  yet  the  Whistlers  may  choose  to  pass 
them  by  to  decoy  to  one  lone  bird  sitting  in  a 
small  opening  in  the  ice  a  hundred  yards  away. 
Why?  I  don't  know.  Perhaps  experience  has 
taught  them  that  a  place  where  a  gunner  may 
hide  is  a  pretty  good  place  to  look  for  him.  Be 
sure  that  every  duck  that  flies  in  will  drop  into 
that  same  spot  until  there  is  a  raft  of  birds  there 
large  enough  to  satisfy  all  your  wife's  relations. 
What  to  do  then?  Well,  have  you  a  sail 
aboard?  Then  let  us  push  through  or  over  the 
ice  into  that  opening  and  set  our  decoys  in  the 


350  FEATHERED  GAME 

water  close  to  the  edge  and  on  the  ice  nearby, 
ourselves  in  the  boat  twenty  yards  back  into 
the  ice-field  and  to  leeward  of  the  decoys. 
Throw  the  sail  over  us  and  over  the  boat.  Grip 
a  corner  of  our  covering  in  your  left  hand  and 
carry  it  across  you,  then  your  gun  in  the  right 
hand,  lean  back  in  the  stern  of  the  boat  with 
just  your  eye  uncovered,  keeping  a  sharp  look- 
out always,  and  the  "old  iron"  where  it  can  be 
thrown  quickly  into  action.  Such  an  arrange- 
ment makes  a  blind  hardly  to  be  suspected  by 
the  wisest  campaigner  and  the  ducks  will  often 
come  in  quite  near.  A  gunner  so  placed  will  at 
times  get  good  shooting  when  a  competitor  on 
shore  cannot  get  a  shot.  Try  it  some  time  when 
you  see  them  passing  every  point  and  ledge  out 
of  gun-shot.  Another  point;  make  sure  your 
decoys  are  good  ones.  Our  friend  is  very  dis- 
criminating in  his  tastes  and  prefers  to  be 
fooled  artistically. 

Got  enough,  have  you?  Well,  after  the  sun 
is  up  the  flight  flags.  The  main  body  is  on  some 
inshore  feeding  ground,  and  unless  some  mis- 
guided mortal  will  try  to  ' '  scull ' '  them  we  may 
as  well  quit.  I  am  nearly  frozen!  How  are 
you!     And  we  are  both  ready  to  pull  the  boat 


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ROCKY  MOUNTAIN  GARROT       351 

home — one  of  the  few  times  that  men  are  will- 
ing to  quarrel  for  the  chance  to  toil  for  the  com- 
mon good. 

The  Whistler's  flesh  is  held  in  slight  esteem 
during  the  winter  months  when  its  diet  is  made 
up  of  mussels  and  shellfish  from  the  unfailing 
larder  of  the  sea,  the  last  refuge  of  our  ducks  in 
cold  weather,  but  on  the  inland  waters  where 
they  are  among  the  earliest  visitors  in  the 
spring,  and  during  the  brighter  times  of  sum- 
mer and  early  fall  when  a  vegetable  diet  is  af- 
forded, they  are  more  than  passable  for  the  ta- 
ble. Indeed,  at  any  time  they  are  not  so  strong 
in  their  flavor  as  their  seafowl  neighbors. 

How  dull  and  monotonous  these  summer  days 
must  be  after  their  winter-long  struggle  to  keep 
their  bodies  from  the  soup-kettle  and  their  skins 
from  the  taxidermists'  shelves! 


ROCKY   MOUNTAIN  GARROT.    BAR- 
ROW'S GOLDEN-EYE. 

(Clangula  islandica.) 

A  western  relative  of  our  typical  bird,  of 
somewhat  rare  occurrence  in  the  east.  It  dif- 
fers a  little  from  the  common  variety  in  its 


352  FEATHERED  GAME 

markings,  but  its  habits  are  probably  identical 
with  the  Whistler  ways  familiar  to  all  eastern 
gunners. 

Its  range  lies  more  to  the  west  and  south  of 
the  habitat  of  the  common  variety,  more  numer- 
erous  throughout  the  interior  than  on  the  coast 
line. 

Its  size  is  if  anything  a  bit  larger  than  the 
common  species.  Its  markings  are  as  follows: 
the  color  on  the  head  is  of  purplish  shade — the 
white  patch  at  the  base  of  the  bill  longer  and 
narrower  and  of  somewhat  crescentic  shape — 
the  crest  feathers  a  trifle  longer  than  in  the  type 
known  to  most  of  the  shooting  fraternity  of  the 
northeast,  thus  making  the  outline  of  the  crown 
more  rounded  than  in  the  common  species. 
Three  or  four  white  feathers  appearing  among 
the  scapulars  will  assist  in  showing  the  species 
if  a  male,  as  will  also  the  broad  edgings  on  the 
flank  feathers,  much  heavier  in  this  than  in  the 
typical  bird  of  the  east.  Iris  as  in  the  common 
Whistler.     Feet  dull  orange. 

The  females  of  the  two  species  can  scarcely  be 
distinguished  one  from  the  other.  The  lady  of 
this  species  may  average  a  very  little  larger. 
A  probable  distinction  may  lie  in  the  higher  and 


ROCKY  MOUNTAIN  GARROT      353 

narrower  bill  which  she  wears,  but  I  think  it 
will  need  a  more  than  commonly  close  ob- 
server to  pick  her  out  among  a  number  of  speci- 
mens of  the  ordinary  species. 

This  is  a  bird  of  wide  range,  breeding  any- 
where along  our  northern  border,  thence  any 
distance  toward  cold  weather.  It  may  be  that 
the  greater  number  nest  in  the  Rockies.  It 
seems  to  be  very  uncommon  in  New  England, 
but  is  said  to  breed  in  the  interior  of  Maine  in 
the  lake  region.  A  few  are  taken  each  year  in 
Penobscot  Bay. 

This  duck  has  the  same  music  box  arrange- 
ment in  its  wings  as  has  our  own  species,  and 
decoys  readily  to  "tolers"  of  the  ordinary 
Whistler,  though  it  is  said  that  in  localities  and 
on  streams  where  both  birds  frequent  they  are 
apt  to  keep  apart,  each  to  his  own  kind.  It 
must  be  a  hard  matter  in  the  mating  time,  with 
the  madness  of  that  happy  season  in  his  blood, 
for  young  Mr.  Whistler  to  know  when  he  has 
chosen  wisely  and  well — whether  he  has  chosen 
Miss  Clangula  Americana,  or  her  cousin,  Miss 
Islandica.  But  even  wise  men  have  sometimes 
shown  little  wisdom  at  such  crises,  and  he  has 
this  for  consolation — that  if  he  has  blundered 


354  FEATHERED  GAME 

he  will  never  find  it  out,  since  there  are  few 
prying  scientists  among  his  acquaintances  to 
inform  him  of  his  mistake  and  so  destroy  his 
happiness. 


THE  BUFFLEHEAD.    DIPPER.    BUT- 
TERBALL. 

(Charitonetta  albeola.) 

At  different  seasons  of  the  year  this  pretty 
little  duck  is  found  in  all  parts  of  North 
America,  breeding  from  the  northern  States  of 
the  Union  into  the  Arctic  regions,  and  winter- 
ing in  the  West  Indies,  Mexico  and  Central 
America.     It  is  also  a  chance  visitor  to  Europe. 

A  fat  and  chunky  little  fellow  he  is,  well 
meriting  his  name,  the  "Butter-ball,"  as  also 
his  other  title,  earned  by  his  undoubted  talent 
for  disappearing  beneath  the  water  when  dan- 
ger threatens, — because  of  which  he  is  called 
the  "Spirit  Duck"  and  "Dipper."  In  appear- 
ance he  is  a  miniature  "whistler,"  the  black  and 
white  plumage  being  arranged  much  as  in  the 
dress  of  that  bird,  and  the  little  fellow's  head 
has  the  same  puffy,  hair-on-end  innocence  of 


D 
DQ 


THE  BUFFLEHEAD  355 

brush  and  comb,  with  the  same  changeable  vio- 
let and  green  sheen  to  the  feathers. 

Formerly  a  most  abundant  species  here  and 
on  account  of  its  small  size  seldom  molested  by 
the  gunners,  of  late  it  is  very  rarely  seen,  and 
would,  in  the  present  scarcity  of  game,  hardly 
receive  the  consideration  which  it  once  enjoyed, 
although  its  flesh  is  not  so  good  as  it  might  be. 

It  is  a  wary  little  bird  with  much  of  its  larger 
relative's  good  sense  and  caution,  like  the 
"whistler,"  setting  a  sentinel  over  the  flock  as 
it  feeds,  diving  at  once  if  alarmed,  putting  a 
safe  distance  between  itself  and  pursuit  before 
coming  again  to  the  surface,  then  instantly  tak- 
ing wing  and  off  like  a  flash.  On  the  seacoast 
they  feed  contentedly  among  the  breakers  and 
near  the  rocks,  seeming  to  like  such  places  bet- 
ter than  the  smooth  waters,  probably  because 
the  waves  are  tossing  plenty  of  food  about. 

The  breeding  and  nesting  season  finds  the 
most  of  them  in  the  north,  where  by  quiet 
stream  or  sedgy  pond  they  make  their  nest,  in- 
differently on  the  ground  or  in  a  dead  stub, 
with  its  hollow  lined  with  feathers  and  grass, 
and  all  is  ready  for  the  eggs.     The  broods  range 


356  FEATHERED  GAME 

in  number  from  six  to  twelve  ducklings,  gen- 
erally nearer  the  smaller  figure. 

The  Dipper  is  a  hardy  little  bird,  staying 
in  its  northern  home  late  into  the  fall  and  com- 
ing into  our  latitude  only  during  the  coldest 
weather,  to  leave  again  early  in  the  spring. 

The  male  bird's  plumage  is  made  up  of 
sharply  contrasted  blacks  and  whites,  with  a 
brilliant  sheen  to  the  long,  fluffy  feathers  of 
the  head.  The  upper  parts  are  mainly  black, 
growing  lighter  toward  the  tail.  Lower  neck 
all  around  and  under  parts  throughout  are 
white,  with  faint  dusky  shadings  on  the  flanks 
and  sides.  Except  for  a  large  triangular  patch 
of  white  behind  the  eye  the  entire  head  is  dark 
green,  almost  black,  with  a  purplish  irrides- 
cence.  Most  of  the  wing  coverts  are  white,  but 
a  broad  black  line  runs  through  them  from  the 
lower  back  to  the  shoulder.  Tail  dusky,  feath- 
ers lighter  on  the  edges.  The  bill  is  dull  bluish 
with  a  black  nail.  Feet  pale  flesh  color,  webs 
dusky,  nails  black.     Iris  brown. 

The  female  is  even  smaller  than  the  male  and 
is  of  less  decided  tones ;  a  dull  grayish  brown  in 
color  on  the  back  with  less  of  the  contrasts 
shown  in  the  plumage  of  the  male  bird.     Whit- 


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THE  OLD  SQUAW  357 

ish  below  and  white  speculum.  Head  less  puffy 
in  the  lay  of  its  feathers,  snuffy  brown,  with  a 
small  gray  patch  behind  the  eye.  In  her  mark- 
ings she  resembles  very  closely  the  female  of 
the  American  golden-eye  made  up  a  vest  pocket 
edition. 

The  Bufflehead  averages  from  twelve  to  fif- 
teen inches  in  length  and  in  extent  from  twenty- 
two  to  twenty-four  inches.  As  may  be  seen, 
the  smallest  of  our  ducks. 


THE  OLD  SQUAW. 

(Harelda  hyemalis.) 

The  wind  sweeps  along  the  gray  water  in 
heavy  gusts,  driving  dead  leaves  seaward  and 
piling  foam  and  drift  on  the  island  shores.  The 
long  rollers  break  on  the  ledges  in  heavy  mono- 
tone, thundering  across  seaweed-covered  reefs 
in  foam  and  feathery  spray.  The  oak  trees 
creak  and  gride  against  each  other  where  they 
margin  the  shore  and  the  smaller  branches  rat- 
tle and  clash  together.  Withered  leaves  and 
dead  grass  stems  rustle  drearily  in  the  breeze. 
Not  a  song-bird  cheers  the  woods  with  melody. 
Not  a  shore-bird's  whistle  gladdens  beach  or 


358  FEATHERED  GAME 

marsh.  Landward  the  only  indication  of  bird 
life  is  the  scream  of  the  jay  or  the  distant  caw- 
ing of  the  crows,  southward  bound.  Winter  is 
close  at  hand.  There  is  a  sting  in  the  wind,  a 
nip  in  the  air,  and  the  fingers  are  numb  and  blue 
as  they  hold  the  gun  barrels.  But  out  on  the 
water,  careless  of  wind  or  wave,  rides  a  flock  of 
"  Squaws "  making  always  a  merry  clatter. 
Ever  and  anon  some  of  their  number  rise 
against  the  breeze  to  dart  off  at  lightning  speed, 
apparently  in  the  mere  enjoyment  of  flight,  for, 
circling  a  half  a  mile  about,  they  plump  down 
again  among  their  comrades,  all  the  time  noisily 
calling  to  each  other.  We  might  almost  say 
they  are  the  only  song  birds  among  the  ducks, 
for  really  their  notes  are  very  pleasant  to  hear 
and  quite  musical  in  comparison  with  the  usual 
vocal  production  of  the  family. 

Undisturbed  they  have  made  holiday  and 
raised  their  broods  during  the  short  Arctic 
summer,  but  now,  driven  by  snow  and  ice  from 
these  pleasant  quarters,  they  bring  their  young- 
sters southward  along  the  coasts  of  New  Eng- 
land and  the  Middle  Atlantic  States  for  the 
winter,  dwelling  offshore  from  the  St.  Lawrence 
to  the  Potomac. 


THE  OLD  SQUAW  359 

They  seem  to  favor  the  sandy  shores,  leaving 
to  their  neighbors,  the  "coots,"  almost  undis- 
turbed possession  of  those  rocky,  weed-  and 
kelp-grown  grounds  which  they  love  the  best. 
The  writer  knows  one  stretch  of  shore  divided 
into  two  parts  by  a  high  and  narrow  promon- 
tory; on  the  one  hand  shifting  sandbars  at  the 
mouth  of  a  swift-running  river  and  mile  after 
mile  of  shallows  over  a  sandy  bottom.  Here 
are  the  Squaws,  making  a  continual  music  most 
pleasant  to  the  gunner's  ear.  They  are  a  very 
restless  lot,  dashing  about  from  place  to  place, 
the  swiftest  of  the  seafowl.  On  the  other  side 
of  the  headland  are  waters  deep  and  bold,  crash- 
ing and  tumbling  in  on  a  rugged,  rocky  shore, 
with  the  full  sweep  of  the  open  ocean.  Here 
dwell  the  ' '  coots, ' '  winging  their  heavy  flight  in 
sluggish  contrast  to  the  lightning  rush  of  the 
1 '  Squaw. ' '  Scarce  a  ' '  Long-tail ' '  puts  his  nose 
around  the  point  which  marks  the  frontier  be- 
tween the  two  communities,  or  if  he  does  so, 
dashes  back  with  the  half-scared  air  of  an  in- 
truder. 

The  Oldsquaw  is  mainly  maritime,  though  oc- 
casional vagrants  are  seen  on  the  Great  Inland 
Seas.     Their  only  visits  to  New  England  shores 


360  FEATHERED  GAME 

are  made  during  the  winter  months,  the  breed- 
ing and  summer  seasons  being  spent  in  the 
far  north. 

Their  nests  are  made  upon  the  ground  and 
on  the  shore  of  some  fresh  water  pond  near  the 
sea.  These  contain  from  four  to  seven  grayish 
eggs.  As  soon  as  the  youngsters  are  fairly  well 
grown  and  able  to  take  care  of  themselves  they 
are  taken  out  into  the  wide  world  of  the  ocean. 
For  their  food  the  sea  furnishes  an  unfailing 
supply  of  marine  animals  and  mollusks,  which, 
however,  makes  their  flesh  very  dark  and  to 
most  palates  very  unpleasant.  They  are  very 
fond  of  the  "sand  fleas"  and  marine  creatures 
of  the  seaweed  and  beaches. 

They  leave  our  coasts  for  the  breeding 
grounds,  on  the  shores  of  the  Arctic  seas  and 
among  its  islands,  during  the  latter  half  of 
April  or  the  first  of  May,  to  return  again, 
southward  bound,  in  October  or  November,  ac- 
cording to  the  season,  remaining  in  our  waters 
all  winter. 

Because  their  flight  is  very  swift  and  they 
decoy  well  great  numbers  of  Squaws  are  killed 
each  year  by  the  gunners  who  shoot  them  mere- 


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THE  OLD  SQUAW  361 

ly  for  the  practice  and  sport  which  they  af- 
ford, oftentimes  leaving  dead  and  wounded 
birds  to  float  at  the  mercy  of  wind  and  tide. 
It  is  at  the  hands  of  such  butchers  as  these  that 
the  myriads  of  seafowl  that  once  lined  our 
coasts  have  been  reduced  to  the  hundredth  part 
of  their  former  numbers,  for  no  species,  how- 
ever numerous,  could  stand  the  drain  upon  their 
forces  resulting  from  such  shooting,  and  to 
make  the  matter  worse,  most  are  killed  in  the 
spring  flight  to  the  north.  I  have  seen  twenty 
boats  at  a  time,  each  containing  from  two  to 
four  shooters,  all  killing  and  wounding  Squaws, 
and  the  half  of  them  never  troubling  to  pick  up 
a  bird. 

Most  of  the  Squaw  killing  is  done  over  de- 
coys; a  string  of  "tolers"  anchored  to  wind- 
ward of  a  boat  and  the  gunner  only  using  the 
caution  to  keep  below  the  gunwale  until  the 
flock  is  hovering  over  the  decoys.  Another  way 
much  in  favor  is  to  put  a  line  of  boats  across  a 
sound  or  channel  through  which  the  birds  are 
accustomed  to  pass  in  going  to  and  from  their 
feeding  grounds,  and  by  anchoring  a  little  more 
than  a  gunshot  apart  the  birds  have  no  choice 


362  FEATHEBED  GAME 

but  to  run  the  gauntlet  if  they  would  have  their 
breakfast.  Of  course  they  are  shot  from 
"floats"  also. 

A  number  of  names  are  given  this  bird  by  the 
gunners  of  the  coast,  among  them,  "Long-tailed 
Duck;"  "Old  Injun,"  (male);  "Old  Squaw," 
(female);  "Sou-southerly,"  from  some  fancied 
resemblance  of  their  cry  to  these  words; 
"Hound,"  from  the  sound  of  the  flock's  "gab- 
ble," which  is  somewhat  like  the  distant  yelp- 
ing of  a  pack  of  hounds ;  ' '  Old  Wife, ' '  from  its 
talents  as  a  conversationalist,  perhaps. 

The  Old  Squaw,  by  which  name  it  is  most  gen- 
erally known  to  us  of  the  northeast,  is  also 
found  on  the  Great  Lakes  in  winter,  dwells  on 
the  Pacific  coast  and  in  the  waters  of  northern 
Europe  along  the  coast. 

What  a  streak  of  lightning  it  is  when  under 
way!  When  a  gunner  thinks  he  is  "holding 
just  right"  on  a  passing  "Squaw"  it  is  a  good 
plan  for  him  to  double  his  forelaying  or  the 
bird  will  continue  to  pass.  Certainly,  with  the 
possible  exception  of  the  "whistler,"  no  duck 
of  the  salt  water  can  hope  to  stay  in  his  com- 
pany when  he  is  crowded  for  time.  A  heavy 
charge  of  powder  and  about  number  4  shot  is 


THE  OLD  SQUAW  363 

necessary  as  a  convincing  argument  for  stop- 
ping him.  Where  much  hunted  they  learn  cau- 
tion quickly  and  offer  only  the  longest  of  shots. 
At  any  time  a  wounded  bird  means  a  heap  of 
trouble  in  the  gathering  thereof.  They  have 
all  the  talents  of  the  most  skillful  seafowl  at 
submarine  navigation. 

The  seasonal  changes  of  plumage  in  the  male 
bird  are  quite  radical.  In  the  breeding  dress 
the  head  and  neck  are  a  brownish  black  with  a 
patch  of  gray  about  the  eyes.  Neck  and  breast 
a  very  dark  brown,  nearly  black;  the  under 
parts  white  or  silver  gray,  well  defined  and 
sharply  contrasted  against  this  dark  ground. 
Upper  parts  everywhere,  as  are  also  the  long 
feathers  of  the  tail,  nearly  black ;  the  scapulars 
varied  with  tawny  yellow  and  reddish  brown  on 
the  edges  of  the  feathers.  The  short  tail 
feathers  silvery  gray,  darkening  toward  the 
central  feathers.  Bill  black  with  an  area  of 
orange  at  the  tip.  Iris  of  the  male  carmine, 
his  feet  dull  bluish  with  dusky  webs  and  black 
claws.  Iris  of  the  female  yellow,  feet  dusky 
greenish  with  blackish  webs. 

The  fall  and  winter  plumage  is  widely  differ- 
ent from  the  spring  suit ;  on  the  head,  neck  and 


364  FEATHERED  GAME 

forepart  of  the  back  almost  white,  with  a  gray- 
ish patch  on  the  cheeks  and  a  dark  brown  spot 
under  the  ears.  Upper  breast  dark  brown  be- 
tween the  white  of  the  neck  and  the  under  parts. 
Bill  mostly  orange,  with  nail  and  central  line 
of  the  mandible  black.  When  a  flock  of  winter 
Squaws  goes  past  it  looks  like  a  snow  squall 
driving  over  the  waves.  Occasional  males  are 
taken  in  a  curiously  pied  and  mixed  dress,  a 
stage  between  the  regular  plumages.  Some 
birds  are  found  carrying  the  winter  dress 
through  the  summer  or  vice  versa. 

The  female  is  a  modestly  attired  duck.  She 
has  not  the  elongated  central  tail  feathers. 
Her  head,  neck  and  upper  parts  in  general  are 
like  the  male's  but  paler  and  of  less  decided 
colors;  grayish  brown  with  a  whitish  patch  on 
neck  and  about  the  eye.  Under  parts  white  ex- 
cept the  upper  part  of  the  breast  which  is  light 
brown. 

The  length  of  the  male  bird  varies  according 
to  the  development  of  his  tail  feathers  from 
twenty  to  twenty-three  inches;  extent  about 
thirty  inches.  The  length  of  the  female  about 
eighteen  inches ;  extent,  a  trifle  less  than  that  of 


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THE  HARLEQUIN  DUCK         365 

the  male  bird.  Weight  of  this  species  from  one 
and  three-quarters  to  two  pounds.  The  Squaw 
is  found  on  the  coast  of  Alaska  but  is  rarely 
seen  on  the  western  coast  of  the  United  States. 
It  is  common  all  along  the  coasts  of  northern 
Europe  and  Asia. 


THE  HARLEQUIN  DUCK.  "LORD  AND 
LADY." 

(Histrionicus  histrionicus.) 

This  bird  inhabits  nearly  the  whole  of  the 
northern  hemisphere,  Europe,  Asia,  Green- 
land, Iceland  and  North  America.  In  our  own 
country  it  breeds  rarely  in  our  northern  States, 
more  commonly  in  the  Arctic  regions.  It  also 
nests  in  the  interior  in  the  mountains,  the 
Rockies  and  the  Sierra  Nevadas,  which  fact 
seems  strange  to  our  sportsmen  of  the  north- 
east, for  to  them  the  Harlequin  is  a  bird  of  the 
deep  water,  only  found  in  any  number  far  out 
to  sea  with  the  king  eiders.  It  is  reported  to 
have  bred  along  the  eastern  coast  line  of  New 
England  and  in  the  Bay  of  Fundy,  but  probably 
is  nowhere  numerous  in  the  nesting  season  south 


366  FEATHERED  GAME 

of  Newfoundland  and  Labrador.  It  is  seldom 
found  in  this  latitude  except  during  the  cold 
weather. 

From  the  time  of  their  visits  and  the  dis- 
tance of  their  haunts  from  the  mainland  few 
of  their  numbers  fall  a  prey  to  the  gunners, 
and  the  "Lords  and  Ladies,"  as  they  are  named 
by  seafowl  shooters,  are  very  rarely  occupants 
of  our  game  bags.  But  this  is  small  cause  for 
grief,  since  aside  from  their  bright  plumage 
and  their  beauty  as  "specimens"  they  are  of 
little  value. 

If  a  shot  is  fired  at  a  flock  on  the  wing  they 
will  sometimes  plunge  from  the  air  into  the 
water  and  after  swimming  below  the  surface 
again  take  wing,  coming  up  a  hundred  yards 
away — seeming  the  instant  they  reappear  to 
dash  from  the  depths  into  the  air  at  full  speed, 
leaving  the  gunner  inexperienced  in  their  ways 
and  who  perhaps  had  thought  that  by  some  mi- 
raculous chance  he  had  killed  the  entire  flock,  to 
find  that  he  doesn't  care  for  that  kind  of  duck 
after  all.  I  passed  through  just  such  an  ex- 
perience once,  and  remember  yet  how  disgusted 
and  surprised  I  was  when  after  steaming  up 
to  where  the  whole  flock  should  have  been  dead 


THE  HARLEQUIN  DUCK  367 

— no  duck!  and  what  may  have  been  their 
ghosts  rising  from  their  watery  graves  sixty 
yards  away. 

They  make  their  nests  on  the  ground  or  in 
the  hollow  of  a  tree,  lining  the  cavity  with 
grass,  leaves,  moss  or  down.  The  number  of 
eggs  is  from  six  to  ten — usually  eight — of  a 
grayish  green  color. 

This  is  a  very  curiously  marked  duck,  beau- 
tifully plumaged  in  its  full  dress,  which,  it  is 
probable,  is  not  put  on  before  the  third  spring. 
The  general  color  of  the  species  is  a  dull  bluish, 
almost  purplish,  darker  and  nearly  black  on  the 
top  of  the  head,  lower  back,  rump  and  tail. 
The  body  color  is  darker  on  the  head  and  neck 
than  on  the  breast  and  back,  here  growing  more 
brownish  in  tone.  The  flanks  bright  chestnut. 
A  white  patch  on  each  side  at  the  root  of  the 
tail.  Speculum  purplish  with  a  metallic  lus- 
tre. A  patch  of  white  at  the  base  of  the  bill; 
stripe  of  chestnut  above  each  eye,  and  a  small 
circular  patch  of  white  behind  the  eye,  with  a 
long,  narrow  stripe  of  the  same  color  running 
down  each  side  of  the  hind  neck.  A  collar  of 
white  running  around  the  lower  neck,  this 
black-edged,   and  another  lower   down  on  the 


368  FEATHERED  GAME 

forebreast,  the  ends  almost  meeting  on  the 
back,  this  stripe  also  black-bordered.  Some  lit- 
tle white  on  the  scapulars ;  iris  red-brown ;  feet 
dull  blue  with  dusky  webs;  bill  greenish. 

The  female  is  considerably  smaller  than  her 
mate  and  somewhat  different  in  her  markings; 
more  brownish  in  her  tones  and  lighter  and 
grayer  below.  Bill,  feet  and  iris  as  in  the  male 
bird.  Length  of  male  from  fifteen  to  seventeen 
inches;  extent  from  twenty-four  to  twenty- 
seven;  female  somewhat  less  than  these  meas- 
urements. 


THE  LABRADOR  DUCK. 

(Camptolaimus  labradorius.) 

There  is  small  likelihood  of  the  gunner's 
meeting  this  bird,  either  in  New  England's 
waters  or  elsewhere  outside  a  few  great  mu- 
seums, but  on  the  slight  chance  that  it  still  sur- 
vives and  may  happen  to  be  taken,  and  in  order 
that  our  list  of  seafowl  may  be  complete  it  is 
here  described. 

There  is  much  reason  to  believe  that  the  spe- 
cies is  extinct,  at  least  there  is  no  record  of  its 
capture  in  many  years.     If  a  specimen  should 


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THE  LABRADOR  DUCK  369 

be  taken  the  lucky  gunner  would  find  it  the 
most  profitable  bit  of  seafowl  shooting  of  his 
career,  for  he  might  command  his  own  price 
for  the  prize.  I  think  the  last  recorded  speci- 
men, as  published  by  the  "Auk,"  the  official 
journal  of  the  American  Ornithologist's  Union, 
was  one  taken  at  Grand  Menan  Island  in  1871. 
There  are  very  few  specimens  in  collections 
(some  forty  in  this  country  and  perhaps  twenty 
across  the  water)  and  it  is  probable  that  these 
will  always  be  highly  prized,  the  value  of  each 
bird  increasing  every  year.  Very  few  can  be 
had  at  any  price.  The  figure  paid  at  the  last 
sale  of  which  I  knew  was  $1,000  per  duck. 

Cast  in  the  heavy  ponderous  mould  of  the 
seaduck,  short  of  wing,  slow  and  heavy  in  flight, 
and  comparatively  clumsy  in  model,  the  bird 
bears  some  resemblance  to  the  eiders  both  in 
shape  and  markings.  As  it  was  fitted  out  with 
all  the  advantages  possessed  by  the  coots  and 
eiders,  it  is  hard  to  see  why  the  race  should 
have  died  out.  Audubon  tells  of  its  breeding 
habits.  It  was  a  strictly  maritime  species  and 
nested  from  the  coast  of  Labrador  into  the 
north,  in  winter  coming  southward  to  the  waters 
of  the  Chesapeake.     This  is  about  all  we  know 


370  FEATHERED  GAME 

of  its  life  and  habits,  and  our  chance  of  learn- 
ing more  about  thero  is  very  slight.  It  was 
fully  fifty  years  ago  that  they  were  found  on 
our  coasts,  never  in  any  abundance,  for  few 
have  been  taken  at  all. 

Audubon's  drawings  were  made  from  a  pair 
shot  by  Daniel  Webster  and  by  him  presented 
to  the  naturalist. 

The  male  bird's  head  and  neck  are  white,  with 
a  broad  black  line  running  down  over  the  crown 
and  nape.  The  lower  neck  with  a  black  ring 
encircling  it  and  that  connected  with  the  black 
of  the  back  and  upper  parts.  Below  this  black 
collar  a  broader  band  of  white  which  nearly 
meets  at  the  back.  Above,  entirely  black  ex- 
cept the  wing  coverts,  secondaries  and  scapu- 
lars, these  last  pearl  gray ;  below,  wholly  black, 
save  the  linings  of  the  wings  and  the  axillars, 
which  are  white.  Primaries  and  their  coverts 
and  the  tail  feathers  brownish  black.  Bill  black, 
base  and  edges  orange,  the  ridge  blue-gray. 
Eyes  reddish  brown ;  feet  gray  with  dusky  webs 
and  nails. 

The  female  is  a  mottled  gray  and  brown  duck 
not  much  unlike  the  females  of  the  king  eiders, 
but  may  be  distinguished  by  her  white  speculum. 


THE  AMERICAN  EIDER  371 

Bill,  eyes  and  feet  as  in  the  male.  Length  from 
eighteen  to  twenty  inches;  extent  about  thirty 
inches. 

THE  AMERICAN  EIDER. 

(Somateria  dresseri.) 

This  dweller  of  the  cold  north  visits  our 
coasts  only  during  the  severest  winter  weather. 
Even  then  it  keeps  to  its  feeding  grounds 
among  the  outer  islands  and  in  the  open  sea, 
hence  it  is  called  the  "Sea  Duck,"  and  by  this 
title  is  best  known  to  our  gunners. 

Beneath  the  feathers  the  bird  is  covered  with 
a  thick  coat  of  down,  (the  eider-down  of  com- 
merce, or  some  of  it),  which  in  the  regions 
where  they  breed  is  gathered  from  the  nests  as 
it  is  supplied  by  the  birds  themselves.  They 
will  even  submit  to  being  robbed  twice,  it  is  said, 
but  decline  to  furnish  more  if  the  spoiler  makes 
a  third  descent,  then  deserting  the  nest.  The 
birds  use  this  down  as  a  lining  for  the  nests  and 
as  a  covering  for  the  eggs,  pulling  the  thick, 
blanket-like  mass  over  their  treasures  when 
they  leave  them  for  a  time  to  feed.  In  Ice- 
land the  people  cut  shallow  holes  in  the  turfy 
edges  near  the  sea,  all  around  their  homes,  even 


372  FEATHERED  GAME 

on  the  low,  sod-covered  roofs  of  their  huts,  in 
which  the  Eiders  may  make  their  nests,  for 
peace  and  perfect  protection  have  made  them 
fearless  and  half  domesticated.  Here  they  are 
protected  by  law  and  the  destruction  of  nests  or 
eggs  is  punished  by  a  heavy  fine,  for  the  down 
is  a  source  of  considerable  profit  to  the  people. 
Some  few  birds  bred  for  years  on  the  Maine 
coast  in  Penobscot  Bay,  and  near  Grand  Menan 
Island,  further  east,  but  in  both  places  the 
collector's  persistency  (always  for  the  advance- 
ment of  science,  of  course)  has  discouraged  all 
attempts  there  of  late  years.  Within  a  short 
time,  however,  the  State  has  decided  that  they 
are  worthy  of  some  consideration  and  an  island, 
where  each  year  a  few  have  succeeded  in  nest- 
ing in  spite  of  all  obstacles,  has  been  set  apart 
and  efficiently  guarded  from  intrusion  in  the 
hope  of  their  colony's  increasing  in  numbers, 
which  it  bids  fair  to  do.  Its  main  nesting,  how- 
ever, takes  place  in  the  northeastern  corner  of 
our  continent,  from  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence 
northward  along  the  shores  of  Hudson  Bay  and 
the  Labrador  coast.  Beyond  these  limits  it  is 
replaced  by  the  Greenland  Eider  which  differs 
very  slightly  from  this  species. 


THE  AMERICAN  EIDER  373 

No  kindness  such  as  Iceland  affords  Is  of- 
fered to  the  flocks  which  turn  their  course  south- 
ward along  the  American  coast,  for  as  soon  as 
they  reach  the  lines  of  civilization  they  run 
a  continual  gauntlet  of  shot  from  fishermen  and 
gunners,  and  enjoy  peace  and  quietness  only 
during  the  severest  weather  when  the  sea  is  so 
rough  or  the  day  is  so  cold  as  to  make  a  shoot- 
ing trip  "extra  hazardous."  Fortunately  no 
weather  is  too  cold  or  sea  too  fierce  for  this 
bird's  comfort;  such  conditions  mean  safety, 
and  he  can  be  happy  at  a  temperature  low 
enough  to  freeze  a  polar  bear.  A  pleasant  day 
with  a  smooth  sea  in  midwinter  means  death  to 
many  a  seafowl. 

I  know  one  ledge,  a  favorite  shooting  stand, 
to  which  the  gunners  from  the  neighboring 
islands  will  pull  out  four  or  five  miles  in  the 
afternoon  to  set  their  decoys,  custom  admitting 
these  to  hold  the  position  against  later  comers, 
then  they  go  home  again  to  make  another  start 
at  one  or  two  o'clock  the  following  morning  to 
be  on  hand  at  the  first  light.  Some  even  roll 
up  in  their  blankets  around  a  fire  of  driftwood 
in  the  lee  of  some  great  cliff  in  order  to  be  first 
at  a  point  of  vantage — this  with  a  chance  of  the 


374  FEATHERED  GAME 

thermometer  being  down  out  of  sight  in  the 
glass.  Truly,  "They  have  their  reward."  It 
may  be  game  or  it  may  take  the  form  of  pneu- 
monia. 

A  common  way  in  this  neighborhood  is  for 
the  gunner  to  go  to  the  home  of  some  dweller 
among  the  outer  islands  and  start  out  with  him. 
At  midnight  or  a  little  later  the  warning  hail  is 
heard  and  out  from  the  blankets  you  stumble 
to  blink  sleepily  over  a  cup  of  strong  coffee  and 
the  fuel  to  keep  the  inner  man  in  order,  then 
down  to  the  shore  to  make  ready.  Cold  and 
still  the  night,  scarce  a  breath  of  air  moving 
over  the  quiet  water,  but  with  regular  rise  and 
fall  the  gently  seething  swell  breaks  over  the 
rocks  at  the  mouth  of  the  narrow  cove.  In- 
side the  rocky  barrier  small  fishing  crafts  ride 
at  anchor,  the  water  rippling  alongside  and  their 
masts  reflected  in  the  waves  show  like  long,  un- 
dulating serpents.  Overhead  the  moon  shows 
pale  and  cold,  and  the  stars  in  the  sky  are  wink- 
ing down  at  their  reflections  in  the  sea.  Anon 
comes  the  gentle  rustle  of  the  breeze  among 
the  pines,  so  still  the  night  you  hear  their 
needles  shivering  with  the  cold,  and  next  the 
rumble  and  clatter  of  the  decoys,  oars  and  other 


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THE  AMERICAN  EIDER  375 

trappings  jar  discordantly  on  the  silence  as 
they  are  tumbled  into  the  boat.  At  last  we  are 
off  and  are  soon  right  willing  to  stand  our  trick 
at  the  oars,  pulling  away  with  a  good  will,  for 
the  air  is  pitilessly  cold,  and  the  black-looking 
mass  where  we  hope  for  our  morning's  sport 
rises  out  of  the  sea  a  good  four  miles  away. 
After  a  long  pull  with  oar  blades  made  heavy 
with  their  coating  of  ice,  we  find  ourselves  on  the 
barren,  wave-washed  ledge.  The  decoys  are 
quickly  set  and  are  soon  floating  in  a  life-like 
bunch  before  a  natural  blind  in  the  rocks.  You 
have  come  a  long  distance  in  the  chill  air  of  the 
night  and  though  half  frozen  with  the  winter's 
breath  are  yet  ready  to  brave  rheumatism  or 
risk  pneumonia  in  the  pursuit  of  your  game. 
If  so  you  are  made  of  the  stuff  that  succeeds 
and  deserve  success. 

On  every  hand  strange  and  fantastic  shapes 
loom  up  like  ghosts, — the  work  of  dashing  spray 
and  the  north  wind.  The  rocks  are  clad  in  icy 
armor  and  every  salt  stream  trickling  down1 
from  the  pools  above  marks  its  course  with  sil- 
ver tracery.  Long  icicles  hang  pendant  from 
the  beetling  cliffs  which  overtop  the  waves,  and 
over  all  the  moon  throws  a  weird  and  fairy 


376  FEATHERED  GAME 

light — here  into  a  cavern  of  inky  blackness, 
there  upon  a  wall  glittering  as  with  pearls  and 
diamonds  set  in  Parian  marble.  The  never- 
quiet  swell  of  the  Atlantic  heaves  and  falls  with 
regular  pulse  below,  and  for  a  time  all  conver- 
sation is  hushed  in  the  grandeur  of  the  scene, 
the  silence  only  broken  by  the  booming  of  the 
surf  on  some  neighboring  reef.  Ere  long  the 
path  of  the  moon  grows  paler  on  the  water,  and 
as  the  first  faint  shaft  of  light  goes  shivering 
across  the  wakening  world  the  rustling  wings 
of  the  dwellers  on  the  waves  are  heard  out  in 
the  misty,  uncertain  stretch  of  water  before 
you.  With  straining  eyes  you  peer  over  the 
gray,  tumbling  seas.  A  splash!  Something 
has  settled  among  the  decoys  and  swimming  up 
in  social  mood  begins  a  chat  with  one  of  them. 
Its  wooden  dignity  and  silence  discourages  any 
long  conversation,  and  before  you  have  made 
up  your  mind  as  to  which  white  floating  object 
is  the  most  appropriate  mark  for  your  charge 
he  takes  wing  and  disappears  in  the  gloom,  per- 
haps followed  by  the  haphazard  discharge  of 
every  gun  in  the  battery. 

The  east  is  brighter  now.    Rays  of  light  are 
piercing  the  blackness  overhead  with  arrowy 


THE  AMERICAN  EIDER  377 

shafts.  The  few  remaining  stars  are  fast  put- 
ting out  their  lamps.  The  clamor  of  passing 
flocks  and  the  rush  of  hurrying  wings  begin  to 
make  sweet  music.  You  cease  drumming  on 
your  knees  and  thrashing  your  arms  about  in 
windmill  fashion  to  keep  your  fingers  warm — 
halt  in  your  endless  sentry  march  up  and  down 
the  narrow  rock-shelf  where  you  have  tramped 
and  stamped  about  that  the  blood  might  not 
freeze  in  your  very  heart,  and  grasp  the  gun 
tightly  (though  you  think  you  will  be  compelled 
to  use  it  as  a  club,  since  your  fingers  are  so 
numb  and  stiff  that  you  can  scarcely  hope  to 
pull  trigger)  for  a  flock  of  Sea  Ducks,  their 
broad  front  like  a  line  of  battle,  are  headed 
right  for  your  decoys!  Wait  a  bit!  Don't  fire 
yet!  They  are  big  birds  and  seem  to  be  much 
nearer  than  they  really  are,  especially  when 
head  on,  but  you  may  easily  discover  that  your 
eyes  are  deceiving  you  if  you  shoot  now.  They 
are  scarcely  in  gunshot  yet.  Now!  As  they 
swing!  Bang! — Bang!  Bang! — Bang!  A 
mighty  commotion  and  away  goes  the  remnant 
of  the  flock  in  a  hurry.  See,  there  are  three  big 
fellows  lying  on  their  backs  in  the  water  with 
feebly  kicking  feet  in  the  air,  another  turning 


378  FEATHERED  GAME 

slowly  'round  and  'round  in  a  vain  effort  to  get 
under,  and  a  couple  more  with  better  success 
diving  to  the  depths  and  swimming  below  the 
surface  for  dear  life.  There  is  small  hope  of 
their  capture,  yet  if  they  come  up  within  shot 
let  them  have  it,  for  a  stray  pellet  might  stop 
them  and  we  want  to  leave  no  poor  cripples 
here  to  suffer  and  starve. 

Perhaps  when  you  have  shot  your  wounded 
Sea  Duck  three  or  four  times  over  you  dis- 
cover that  he  will  stand  a  whole  lot  of  killing, 
and  that  he  will  carry  off  ballast  enough  to  sink 
most  birds.  He  is  one  of  those  hard-headed, 
gritty  fellows  who  never  admit  the  fact  even 
when  they  have  been  killed,  and  the  thick  coat 
of  down  and  feathers,  backed  up  by  the  sturdy 
muscles  beneath,  makes  a  very  good  suit  of  ar- 
mor over  his  vitals.  Head  on,  unless  a  shot 
enters  the  neck  or  brain,  you  may  as  well  snap 
your  fingers  at  him  as  waste  ammunition, — 
that,  too,  when  you  are  using  number  one  or 
two  for  shot.     Many  use  as  heavy  as  BB. 

Away  in  the  distance,  wherever  you  look 
there  is  some  scurrying  flock  of  seafowl: 
swift-flying  "old-squaws"  with  a  continual 
"gabbling," — shelldrakes  driving  past  in  rush- 


THE  AMERICAN  EIDER  379 

ing  flight,  but  silent  all,  and  looking  like  a  flock 
of  animated  tenpins, — the  heavy,  lumbering 
flight  of  "coots,"  or  "surf  ducks,"  winging 
their  way  to  some  less  troubled  stretch  of  water. 
To-day  this  is  a  favorite  feeding  ground,  but 
to-morrow  there  may  not  be  a  Sea  Duck  here, 
for  they  often  change  their  range  without  ap- 
parent cause,  leaving  a  place  where  for  weeks 
they  have  been  plenty  and  moving  a  few  miles 
away  to  return  as  suddenly  as  they  went. 
Sometimes  this  is  the  work  of  the  wind  which 
may  carry  them  miles  away  as  they  rest  upon 
the  sea  at  night,  but  as  often  as  not  it  is  the 
bird's  own  caprice. 

Right  overhead,  coming  up  behind  you  and 
unnoting  your  presence  where  you  were  hidden 
by  the  rocks,  comes  a  big  loon  with  out-stretched 
neck  and  flying  bravely  with  rapid  wingbeats. 
A  shot  only  serves  to  hasten  his  flight,  and 
without  a  sound  he  keeps  on,  swinging  in  a 
wide  circuit  to  alight  a  mile  away,  perhaps 
sorely  hurt.  The  sun  is  up,  the  birds  come  in 
thick  and  fast  for  an  hour  or  so,  then  the  flight 
suddenly  ceases.  If  you  have  held  well  and 
truly,  loaded  the  proper  charges  and  placed 
them  where  you  ought,  by  this  time,  being  a 


380  FEATHERED  GAME 

reasonable  man,  you  have  game  enough.  You 
had  better  go  home  now,  for  the  flight  is  done 
and  only  an  occasional  straggler  will  reward 
your  longer  stay.  So  thinks  our  worthy  pilot. 
The  man  in  the  "dory,"  too,  who  has  lain  down 
to  leeward  all  this  time,  has  had  work  enough 
in  picking  up  the  dead  and  wounded.  Add  to 
this  that  with  the  growing  day  a  stiff  breeze  is 
coming  out  of  the  northeast.  Black  heavy 
clouds  are  gathering  seaward  and  the  veteran's 
eyes  are  beginning  to  watch  their  threatening 
masses  closely.  At  last, — "Come,  boys,  we 
must  be  gittin'  out  o'  this!  There's  nasty 
weather  comin'  yonder,"  and  with  a  lusty  hail 
he  tells  Sam  to  take  him  aboard  and  they  will 
take  up  the  "tolers."  It  is  no  child's  play  for 
the  green  hand  to  pick  up  and  stow  the  decoys, 
but  these  two,  one  at  the  oars  and  the  other  at 
the  lines,  make  short  work  of  it  though  the 
"dory"  jumps  and  pounds  in  the  "chop"  peril- 
ously near  to  the  jagged  points  of  half  sub- 
merged rocks.  And  now  with  the  game  aboard 
and  the  passengers  safely  stowed  we  square 
away  for  home,  the  "landlubbers"  of  the 
party  keeping  anxious  eyes  to  windward  where 
sea  and  sky  are  fast  becoming  one  in  a  dull 


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THE  AMERICAN  EIDER  381 

gray  curtain.  A  mile  from  home  the  first  flakes 
of  the  storm  begin  to  seethe  in  the  water  along- 
side and  in  another  minute  every  landmark  is 
hidden — nothing  to  look  upon  but  nearby  waves 
and  level  lines  of  driving  snow.  If  our  guard- 
ians are  disturbed  at  the  prospect  they  give  no 
sign,  but  pull  steadily,  keeping  their  course  by 
the  heavy  wind  which  they  know  will  hold  from 
this  quarter  for  some  time.  But  the  passen- 
gers, covering  up  no  little  anxiety  under  an  air 
of  indifference,  are  mightily  pleased  when 
finally  they  hear  the  thunder  of  the  sea  upon  the 
rocks  ahead.  A  short  pull  along  the  coast 
brings  into  view  the  dead  oak  which  marks  the 
harbor's  entrance,  and  soon  the  voyage  is 
ended  and  we  are  at  home  with  another  shoot- 
ing experience  to  remember,  and  that,  too,  one 
which  only  New  England's  winter  season  can 
give  us. 

The  Eiders  gather  into  large  flocks  and  fly 
out  into  the  open  sea  for  the  night,  coming  in 
about  daybreak  to  feed  among  the  sunken  reefs 
on  the  mollusks  and  shellfish  which  make  their 
chief  diet  and  abound  in  such  places.  This 
food,  the  staff  of  life  to  the  seafowl,  makes  their 
flesh  dark  and  to  most  people  unpleasant  in 


382  FEATHERED  GAME 

flavor.  But  opinions  differ  as  to  their  food 
qualities,  the  islanders  praising  them  highly, 
even  preferring  them  to  the  more  generally  es- 
teemed fowl  of  the  fresh  water.  In  its  feed- 
ing the  Eider  dives  deeper  than  most  ducks; 
just  how  deep  we  can  hardly  know,  but  I  think 
I  put  it  moderately  when  I  claim  that  they  can, 
as  the  boys  say,  " bring  up  bottom"  in  sixty 
feet  of  water ;  and  many  say  much  deeper. 

Many  Eiders  are  killed  by  gunners  who  take 
position  under  cover  on  the  deep  water  ledges 
where  the  birds  feed,  waiting  while  the  flocks 
work  in  shore,  as  they  dive  and  come  up  nearer 
each  time  until  the  whole  party  is  well  in. 
Then  the  first  arrivals  gather  together  in  a 
compact  bunch  to  await  the  rest  of  the  flock. 
When  all  are  accounted  for  they  fly  out  again 
to  repeat  the  process.  Often  a  considerable 
number  are  killed  at  a  discharge  as  they 
"bunch  up"  to  go  out. 

From  the  nature  of  their  haunts  few  Sea 
Ducks  are  killed  from  "floats"  as  the  water  is 
usually  too  rough  to  permit  their  use,  for  the 
ducks,  climbing  up  one  hill  of  green  water,  may 
easily  look  into  the  craft  as  it  slides  down  an- 
other long  swell.     The  game,  too,  is  much  more 


THE  AMERICAN  EIDER  383 

wary  than  the  average  gunner  would  suppose 
to  see  them  come  to  decoys,  for  this  they  do 
readily,  a  single  bird  or  a  small  flock  being  al- 
most sure  to  come  in  if  they  see  the  "tolers." 
The  larger  flocks  are  less  likely  to  notice  de- 
coys— a  general  rule  with  all  ducks. 

These  birds  arrive  in  New  England  waters 
about  December  first,  and  have  nearly  always 
gone  north  again  by  the  middle  of  March  or  the 
first  of  April  at  latest,  varying  their  movements 
as  the  season  is  mild  or  severe. 

The  Sea  Duck  is  a  powerfully  made  fowl, 
about  twenty-four  inches  long  and  in  extent 
some  forty  inches.  The  males  will  average  to 
weigh  between  five  and  six  pounds ;  the  females 
a  pound  less.  The  male  in  full  plumage  is  a 
remarkably  showy  bird,  the  contrasting  effects 
of  his  snowy  white  and  jet  black  plumage  in 
broad  areas  being  very  striking.  His  head  is 
black  on  the  crown  and  sides  down  through  the 
eyes  and  back  to  the  base  of  the  skull,  with  a 
thin  strip  of  white  running  over  the  centre  of 
the  hind  head  and  narrowing  to  a  point  on  the 
crown.  The  cheeks,  throat,  neck,  back,  upper 
coverts  and  drooping  plumes  of  the  wings,  the 
upper  breast,  also  a  spot  on  each  side  of  the 


384  FEATHERED  GAME 

rump  are  white,  shot  on  the  sides  and  back  of 
the  head  with  pale  green, — a  beautiful,  satiny 
shade, — and  tinged  on  the  breast  with  pale 
russet  brown.  These  delicate  colors  fade  very 
much  in  stuffed  specimens.  The  entire  under 
parts,  rump,  tail  and  wing  quills  are  jet 
black.  Iris  brown.  Feet  and  legs  dark  green. 
The  feet  are  a  very  generously  constructed  pair 
of  paddles,  set  well  back  on  the  body  as  an  ad- 
vantage in  diving,  of  much  larger  proportions 
than  seem  the  fashion  with  the  ducks  of  the 
fresh  water,  and  though  perhaps  less  refined 
in  appearance  than  the  water  motors  of  the 
aristocrats  of  the  shallow  ponds,  will  do  more 
work  in  one  stroke  than  will  theirs  in  three. 
Frontal  processes  a  rich  yellowish  green  or 
orange. 

The  female  is  widely  different  in  her  mark- 
ings from  her  mate,  and  would  scarcely  be 
thought  one  of  the  same  species.  She  is  a  deep 
reddish  brown  hue  all  over,  somewhat  dusky  on 
the  lower  parts,  and  everywhere  mottled  and 
barred  with  rich  dark  brown  and  black;  the 
dark  colors  on  the  centres  of  the  feathers  above, 
and  the  cross-barrings  mainly  on  the  flanks  and 
under  parts. 


THE  AMERICAN  EIDER  385 

During  the  first  fall  the  young  birds  resemble 
the  females  though  the  markings  are  less  clearly 
defined.  In  the  next  spring  the  young  males 
put  on  a  motley  dress  of  brown,  gray  and  black 
irregularly  splashed  over  the  whole  body,  but 
foreshadowing  faintly  the  plumage  of  the  adult 
bird.  It  is  probable  that  they  do  not  get  their 
showy  suit  of  black  and  white,  clean  cut  and 
delicately  shaded,  until  the  third  year  of  their 
life. 

For  a  time  after  the  breeding  season  the  male 
Eider  is  said  to  put  on  a  dress  such  as  his  wife 
wears.  I  have  never  seen  one  in  this  plumage, 
the  latest  killed  male  which  I  have  seen  in  New 
England  waters  was  in  the  perfection  of  his 
wedding  clothes  on  May  30. 

During  the  latter  part  of  their  stay  with  us 
there  are  comparatively  few  males  in  full  plum- 
age among  the  shotgun's  victims,  the  most  be- 
ing what  the  islanders  call  "mongrels"  from 
their  curiously  mixed  plumage, — the  young 
males  just  mentioned.  It  would  seem  that  the 
elders  of  the  flock  go  on  to  the  north  ahead  of 
the  main  body,  since  the  flocks  found  in  our 
waters  seem  to  be  all  young  males  or  all  fe- 
males.    Certainly    during    the    last    month    of 


386  FEATHERED  GAME 

their  stay  a  full-pluinaged  male  is  a  rarity. 
The  male  goes  on  ahead  to  prepare  the  summer 
residence  for  his  lady?  Not  exactly!  When 
the  house-keeping  cares  show  on  the  family 
horizon,  a  cloud  no  larger  than  a  man's  hand, 
Mr.  Eider  joins  with  other  worthless  good-for- 
naughts  to  spend  his  days  and  nights  away  from 
home,  living  almost  entirely  at  sea  until  the 
nesting  and  moulting  seasons  are  over  and  his 
offspring  have  become  self-supporting. 

These  are  the  largest  of  our  ducks,  eminently 
fitted  to  take  care  of  themselves,  and  one  of  the 
few  species  which  seem  to  be  holding  their  own 
in  the  struggle  against  the  destroyer. 

The  difference  between  the  American  and  the 
Old  World  type,  represented  by  the  Greenland 
Eider,  which  is  occasionally  taken  on  our  coast, 
and  is  perhaps  a  more  northern  race  than  our 
own,  lies  principally  in  the  shape  of  the  frontal 
process  and  bill;  these,  in  the  American  bird, 
are  heavier  and  the  tips  of  the  nose  ornaments 
are  rounder  and  fuller  than  in  the  European 
species.  One  must  be  a  close  observer,  how- 
ever, to  note  the  difference  and  distinguish  the 
visitor  among  a  number  of  our  own  birds. 


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THE  KING  EIDER  387 


THE  KING  EIDER. 

(Somateria  spectabilis.) 

The  Eiders  of  North  America  include  five 
species.  Of  these  the  American,  Greenland 
and  King  Eiders  are  visitors  or  residents  on 
the  northeastern  coast.  The  present  species  is 
another  "Sea  Duck."  It  lives  mostly  in  the 
open  ocean  and  spends  comparatively  little  time 
ashore  even  for  one  of  his  seafaring  race.  His 
is  a  life  of  perfect  independence.  He  is  at 
home  wherever  he  alights  on  ' '  blue  water ' '  and 
never  a  worriment  is  his — never  a  fear  of  pur- 
suing gunner  comes  into  his  mind  to  ruffle  his 
placid  days.  Often  large  flocks  of  the  King 
Eiders  are  found  in  mid-ocean,  hundreds  of 
miles  from  any  land,  feeding  upon  the  drifting 
seaweed  which  furnishes  abundantly  every- 
thing needful. 

Their  maritime  existence  and  the  rarity  of 
their  visits  ashore,  together  with  their  heavy 
bodies  and  short  legs  combine  to  make  their  gait 
nearly  as  graceful  as  that  of  their  human  rep- 
resentative, the  ' '  old  salt. ' '  In  fact,  it  is  a  most 
clumsy  "waddle"  when  compared  with  the  easy 


388  FEATHERED  GAME 

and  nimble  movements  of  the  mallard,  wood 
duck  or  pintail. 

These  are  the  children  of  the  frozen  seas, 
abundant  only  in  Arctic  waters  and  only  com- 
ing into  the  warmer  latitudes  when  the  north 
is  given  over  to  the  dreary  reign  of  night  and 
winter.  Their  migrations  extend  as  far  south 
as  the  Middle  Atlantic  States,  but  they  are  rare 
birds  on  all  the  coast  line.  An  occasional 
straggler  is  seen  in  the  Great  Lakes,  and  there 
is  one  record  of  a  male  bird  being  taken  on  the 
Mississippi,  probably  having  been  blown  out  of 
his  course,  his  reckoning  lost,  and  he  very  will- 
ing to  go  back  to  sea,  for  his  cargo  was  nothing 
but  Mississippi  mud.  They  are  more  common 
on  the  Pacific  coast  than  on  the  eastern  edge  of 
our  continent,  but  in  the  western  waters  do  not 
come  so  far  south;  probably  because  the  same 
latitudes  are  much  warmer  than  with  us. 

In  form  and  habits  they  are  much  like  the 
common  Eiders.  In  his  markings  the  male  dif- 
fers from  the  male  of  the  common  variety  in 
that  he  has  a  remarkable  frontal  process,  most 
pronounced  during  the  breeding  months  and 
nearly  disappearing  after  this  season, — a  large 
and  curious  bulge  upon  the  bridge  of  his  nose, 


THE  KING  EIDER  389 

of  bright  orange  color,  bounded  by  a  jet  black 
edge.  There  is  also  a  black  mark  like  an  in- 
verted V  beneath  the  chin,  the  ends  running 
down  on  each  side  of  the  throat.  The  plumes 
of  the  wings  (the  drooping  tertials)  are  purplish 
black,  wherein  again  he  differs  from  the  male 
of  the  common  species,  and  also  in  the  peculiar 
development  of  the  outer  two  of  these  feathers, 
whose  outer  edges  are  deeply  notched  and  the 
protruding  point  of  the  web  stiffened  to  form  a 
feathery  horn  standing  out  from  each  wing.  In 
color  he  is  mostly  black ;  the  neck,  upper  breast 
and  linings  of  the  wings  with  a  spot  on  each 
side  of  the  rump  are  white.  The  white  of  the 
breast  is  faintly  tinged  with  cinnamon  brown. 
The  top  of  the  head  and  nape  are  grayish  blue 
or  pearl  gray,  a  very  beautiful  shade ;  the  sides 
of  the  head  tinged  with  pale  sea  green  and  the 
feathers  bristly  and  hairlike,  giving  the  effect  of 
a  piece  of  velvet.  Iris  brown.  Bill  and  feet 
of  reddish  hue.  Length  about  twenty-two 
inches;  extent  some  twenty-eight  inches. 
Weight  from  four  to  five  pounds. 

The  female  would  scarcely  be  distinguished 
from  that  of  the  common  species,  except  that 
her  head  and  bill  are  proportionately  shorter 


390  FEATHERED  GAME 

and  deeper,  also  the  frontal  process  is  not  so 
prominent  as  in  the  common  species.  She  is 
smaller  and  of  less  ruddy  coloring  than  Mrs. 
Dresseri,  otherwise  an  exact  replica  of  her 
larger  cousin. 

The  male  in  the  first  year  resembles  the  fe- 
male; in  the  second  he  puts  on  a  motley  guise 
like  that  of  the  common  eider,  and  is  supposed 
to  reach  his  third  year  before  donning  his  per- 
fect plumage,  beautiful  and  striking,  even  more 
so  than  that  of  the  common  eider. 

The  nesting  habits  and  mode  of  life  are  nearly 
identical  with  those  of  the  typical  eider,  and 
there  is  little  to  be  said  of  one  species  which 
may  not  with  equal  truth  be  applied  to  the  other. 
This  bird,  however,  nests  much  further  north; 
perhaps  the  most  northern  summer  dweller 
among  the  wildfowl. 


THE  AMERICAN   SCOTER.    BUTTER- 
BILLED  COOT. 

(Oidemia  americana.) 

Few  of  the  many  species  of  seafowl  which 
abound  in  New  England's  waters  are  so  well 
known,   and   probably  none   are   so   numerous 


THE  AMERICAN  SCOTER         391 

among  our  sea-islands  as  are  the  "Coots,"  as 
they  are  named  by  the  gunners  alongshore. 
During  the  latter  half  of  September  straggling 
bunches  of  these  birds  begin  to  appear,  and  with 
increasing  numbers  they  gather  into  larger 
flocks.  The  greater  part  has  arrived  by  the 
middle  of  October  and  their  advanced  guards 
begin  to  spread  out  down  the  coast  as  far  as 
the  Middle  Atlantic  States.  We  are  told  that 
they  are  sometimes  shot  in  Florida. 

Probably  the  least  wary  of  the  duck  family, 
they  may  be  approached  quite  readily  as  com- 
pared with  other  members  of  the  tribe.  Gun- 
ners use  many  methods  for  capturing  the  Coots, 
but  the  greater  number  are  killed  over  decoys. 
A  string  of  ' '  tolers ' '  is  set  in  a  promising  place 
just  off  some  rocky  point  or  ledge  in  the  deep 
water,  the  gunner  is  well  hidden,  and  if  the  birds 
are  flying  there  is  every  prospect  of  good  shoot- 
ing, for  the  Coot  is  one  of  the  best  of  birds  to 
decoy.  Often  in  the  early  part  of  the  season, 
before  the  birds  have  become  shy  from  con- 
stant peppering,  the  gunner  may  set  his  decoys 
on  a  line  from  his  boat,  only  keeping  below  the 
gunwale  when  the  flocks  are  coining  in.  And 
they  ivill  come  in.     I  have  often  seen  them  fly 


392  FEATHERED  GAME 

close  enough  to  be  struck  with  an  oar, — I  may 
say  that  they  make  it  an  invariable  rule  to  do 
this  when  the  gunner  has  taken  the  shells  out 
of  his  gun  or  laid  it  aside  to  pick  up  his  decoys 
after  a  morning's  cootless  waiting  in  the  cold. 
One  oddity  in  the  gentle  art  of  duck-shooting 
is  the  practice  of  "hollerin'  coots,"  that  is,  of 
making  a  great  noise  when  a  flock  is  passing 
by  out  of  shot,  when  they  will  often  turn  and 
come  to  the  decoys.  The  report  of  a  gun  some- 
times has  the  same  effect,  but  we  New  Engend- 
ers are  too  thrifty  to  waste  powder  and  lead 
where  our  vocal  organs  will  serve  as  well. 

Next  to  decoying  the  use  of  the  "  gunning 
float"  is  the  most  effective  method  of  killing 
Coots.  The  " gunning  float"  is  a  long,  low 
craft,  drawing  but  little  water  and  showing 
only  a  foot  or  so  above  the  surface  when  prop- 
erly trimmed  down  with  ballast.  In  the  fall, 
for  use  in  the  open  water  they  are  "trimmed" 
with  "rockweed;"  in  the  marshes  with 
"thatch."  In  the  spring  and  winter  months 
the  proper  thing  is  snow  and  ice  to  represent 
a  drifting  ice-cake.  It  takes  sharp  eyes  to  de- 
tect the  dangerous  one  among  the  many  harm- 
less pieces  of  ice  when  the  gunner,  clad  in  his 


-*  fi 


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THE  AMERICAN  SCOTER         393 

white  suit,  is  working  his  cautious  way  along 
toward  the  feeding  flocks.  The  deception  is  so 
complete  that  I  have  known  that  crafty  old  pi- 
rate, the  crow,  to  almost  alight  on  the  nose  of 
a  float  when  it  was  being  pushed  after  a  flock 
of  seafowl.  This  float  gunning  is  the  method 
most  used  for  all  duck  and  goose  shooting  on 
the  eastern  New  England  coast  line. 

The  Coots  are  often  approached  by  sail-boats 
when  there  is  a  good  sailing  breeze,  the  craft 
getting  to  windward  and  then  coming  down 
upon  them.  As  these  birds  always  rise  against 
the  breeze  and  are  heavy  in  flight  and  slow  in 
getting  under  way  there  is  often  an  opportunity 
to  get  in  several  shots  before  they  are  out  of 
range. 

I  remember  discovering  on  one  of  my  shoot- 
ing trips  a  new  and  well-wooded  island  in 
waters  where  I  knew  no  island  had  stood  be- 
fore, and  was  surprised  and  alarmed  to  see  my 
find  move  bravely  along  "with  a  bone  in  its 
teeth, ' '  against  wind  and  tide.  I  sat  up  in  my 
float  and  rubbed  my  eyes  for  another  look. 
Suddenly  a  cloud  of  smoke  poured  out  through 
the  trees  and  the  deep-throated  roar  of  heavy 
ten  bores  rolled  over  the  water.     The  mystery 


394  FEATHERED  GAME 

is  solved:  a  tugboat  with  a  row  of  trees  along 
each  gunwale  chasing  a  flock  of  Coots.  This 
method  of  killing  seafowl  is  wisely  forbidden 
by  the  laws  of  most  of  our  maritime  States. 
"Sailing  ducks,"  as  the  method  mentioned  be- 
fore is  termed,  is  also  forbidden  in  many  States, 
and  properly,  too,  since  it  only  serves  to  make 
the  birds  wild  and  finally  to  drive  them  "out- 
side" entirely  because  they  can  get  neither 
rest  nor  food.  Slaughter  enough  can  be  made 
among  them  legitimately  and  a  man  should  be 
satisfied  with  what  can  be  done  over  decoys  and 
by  "sculling." 

A  few  Coots  remain  on  our  coast  during  the 
warm  weather,  but  there  is  not  much  evidence 
of  their  breeding  in  these  latitudes.  They  are 
probably  the  crippled  and  unmated  survivors 
of  the  spring  flight,  not  able  or  not  caring  to 
journey  farther  north.  Some  may  breed  here; 
there  seems  to  be  no  reason  why  they  should 
not,  but  if  they  do  so  at  all  the  number  is  prob- 
ably very  small.  The  most  of  them  go  far  away 
toward  the  land  of  snow  and  ice,  there  to  bring 
up  in  security  their  six  or  eight  youngsters, 
hardening  them  by  a  liberal  diet  of  shell-fish 


THE  AMERICAN  SCOTER         395 

and  sea-food,  until  shot  will  flatten  on  their 
flesh  if  it  strikes  them. 

They  are  unusually  tough  customers  either  in 
life  or  at  the  table.  Most  of  our  cooks  believe 
it  impossible  to  so  prepare  this  bird  as  to  make 
it  decent  food  for  any  but  a  starving  man. 
The  best  recipe  that  I  have  seen  is  something 
as  follows :  First,  skin  your  fowl  and  let  it  par- 
boil in  saleratus  water  at  least  one  day,  or  until 
it  can  be  dented  with  a  fairly  sharp  axe.  If 
your  courage  holds  out  the  game  is  now  ready 
to  stuff  and  bake  as  you  would  any  other  duck, 
except  that  you  must  put  enough  onions  into 
its  inside  to  take  away  all  Coot  flavor.  Arriv- 
ing at  this  stage  of  proceedings  there  are  two 
lines  of  retreat  yet  open  to  you:  either  throw 
your  delicate  morsel  away  or  give  it  to  someone 
against  whom  you  hold  an  ancient  grudge, — on 
no  account  should  you  try  to  eat  it.  Some  of 
my  island  friends  claim  to  be  able  to  cook  a 
Coot  so  that  I  could  not  tell  it  from  a  black  duck. 
Well,  perhaps, — but  thus  far  I  have  always  been 
careful  to  decline  to  referee  any  such  match, 
for  I  much  doubt  if  I  could  distinguish  in  a  dark 
room  between  the  flavor  of  a  Coot  and  the  pal- 


396  FEATHERED  GAME 

ate-tickling  relish  of  a  well  tried  Gloucester 
fishing  boot.  The  only  way  I  can  manage  to 
eat  Coot  is  to  use  the  breast  meat  alone,  parboil 
as  before,  score  deeply  and  broil  like  a  heef- 
steak  and  season  well.  A  bit  of  lemon  juice 
squeezed  on  it  will  help  some,  but  it  is  doubtful 
if  one  would  care  to  regale  one's  self  with  it 
more  than  twice  a  day  for  any  length  of  time. 
If  the  reader  must  experiment  let  me  recom- 
mend that  he  use  a  young  bird  in  the  early  fall. 
This  duck  is  very  hard  to  kill.  He  can  carry 
off  a  full  charge  of  shot  with  no  apparent  diffi- 
culty in  his  working  parts,  and  unless  the  pel- 
lets are  placed  in  a  vital  spot  there  are  few 
chances  of  capturing  him.  If  wounded  severely 
or  wing-broken  he  dives  at  once  and  continues 
diving  and  coming  up  to  fill  his  air  tank,  often 
just  putting  his  nose  above  water  to  get  his 
breath  and  again  going  under  to  stay  until  he 
has  reached  a  safe  distance.  Despite  his  Dutch 
model  and  somewhat  clumsy  appearance  he 
swims  fast  and  well  either  upon  or  below  the 
surface,  but  his  worst  enemy  cannot  truthfully 
accuse  him  of  being  a  graceful  bird  ashore,  for 
he  is  heavy  and  chunky  and  at  best  his  walk  is 
an    awkward    ' 'waddle."     How    do    I    know? 


THE  AMERICAN  SCOTER         397 

Well,  just  now  there  is  under  the  window  where 
I  write  a  male  ''White-wing"  whose  broken 
bones  I  have  repaired  and  whose  wounds  I  have 
cured.  Since  his  arrival  he  has  been  swagger- 
ing about  the  yard  snapping  and  hissing  at  cats, 
dogs  and  fowls  with  all  the  independence  of  one 
whose  title  to  board  and  lodging  is  assured.  I 
have  never  seen  a  wild  bird  tame  so  easily. 

There  are  three  species  of  "Coots"  in  Amer- 
ican waters,  the  "White-winged,"  the  "Patch- 
head,"  and  the  "Butter-billed."  To  this  list 
the  fishermen  will  add  two  more,  the  "Gray 
Coot"  and  the  "Brown  Coot."  These  are  the 
young  of  the  other  species.  In  the  books  these 
ducks  are  "Scoters,"  but  thus  designated 
the  chances  are  that  the  birds  will  not  be  recog- 
nized among  our  deep  water  gunners.  This 
name  is  seldom  heard  and  when  used  is  usually 
distorted  into  "Scooters," — perhaps  just  as 
appropriate.  Tell  these  people  that  these  birds 
are  not  "Coots"  and  they  will  give  you  a  look 
full  of  pity  for  your  ignorance,  and  perhaps 
hint  that  there  was  a  whole  lot  left  out  of  your 
mental  outfit;  yet  these  birds  are  about  as  far 
removed  from  the  true  Coot  as  they  well  could 
be. 


398  FEATHERED  GAME 

Poor  Coots!  They  are  of  little  value  from 
any  point  of  view,  but  it  is  sad  to  think  of  the 
rapidity  with  which  they  are  each  year  decreas- 
ing in  numbers.  Ten  years  ago  they  might  be 
shot  almost  anywhere  alongshore,  but  now  a 
fair  day's  shooting  is  quite  hard  to  get.  It  is 
safe  to  say  that  in  the  last  ten  years  they  have 
diminished  in  numbers  fully  fifty  per  cent.  At 
present  they  are  unprotected  by  any  law  and 
are  harassed  and  slaughtered  from  Labrador  to 
Florida.  Spring  and  fall,  it  is  all  alike,  the 
seafowl  of  every  kind  know  not  a  moment  of 
peace  from  the  time  the  flocks  leave  the  north 
until  their  return  thither  next  season. 

Something  should  be  done  for  them  in  the  line 
of  protection.  At  the  very  least  it  is  not  right 
to  shoot  them  in  the  spring.  Nothing  more  fa- 
vorable to  the  increase  of  bird  life  of  all  kinds 
could  be  accomplished  than  the  enactment  of  a 
law  preventing  all  spring  shooting,  for  by  the 
destruction  of  a  pair  of  birds  in  the  spring  we 
reduce  the  fall  crop  by  at  least  four,  not  includ- 
ing the  original  pair. 

About  the  only  species  of  seafowl  which  are 
not  decreasing  with  terrible  rapidity  are  the 
eiders.     These  are  hardly  holding  their  own  in 


THE  AMERICAN  SCOTER         399 

the  struggle  for  existence,  though  they  have  a 
much  better  chance  in  that  they  make  us  their 
visits  at  a  time  when  only  the  "crankiest"  of 
gun  cranks  would  think  of  braving  the  eold  and 
hardships  of  a  shooting  trip  among  the  outer 
islands.  When  a  party  goes  out  after  "sea 
ducks ' '  they  never  know  when  they  will  be  per- 
mitted to  return.  The  exposed  position  of  the 
haunts  of  their  game  sometimes  makes  a  return 
to  the  mainland  impossible  for  days  if  a  storm 
comes  up;  therefore  winter  shooting  is  not  so 
much  followed. 

The  Coots  are  found  in  both  the  New  and  the 
Old  World. 

The  Butter-billed  Coot,  or  American  Scoter, 
will  probably  average  the  smallest  of  our  Coots, 
though  but  little  smaller  than  the  ' '  Patch-head. ' ' 
In  most  localities  the  present  species  is  the 
least  common  of  the  three;  a  lover  of  "blue 
water,"  seldom  coming  into  the  narrow  arms 
of  the  sea  or  tide-water,  and  only  rarely  taken 
on  the  Great  Lakes  where  his  cousins,  the 
"Patch-head"  and  "White-winged"  are  not  un- 
common. In  habits,  breeding  haunts  and  range 
of  migration  the  three  do  not  differ  materially, 
on  the  eastern  half  of  the  continent  the  larger 


400  FEATHERED  GAME 

number  of  this  species  nesting  in  northern  Lab- 
rador. The  Butter-billed  Coot  is  entirely 
black  save  the  nugget  of  gold  which  it  so  care- 
fully balances  upon  its  nose.  The  base  of  the 
bill' is  bright  orange  yellow,  the  rest  plain  black 
to  conform  to  the  sad  hue  of  its  raiment.  Iris 
brown;  feet  blackish  in  male;  olivaceous  with 
black  webs  in  young  male  and  female. 

The  female  is  a  trifle  smaller  than  the  male 
and  of  dusky  brown  color;  bill  lacking  the  gib- 
bosity of  the  male  and  entirely  black.  Length 
of  this  species  from  seventeen  to  twenty  inches ; 
extent  from  thirty  to  thirty-four  inches. 

Young  or  female  birds  in  any  stage  of  de- 
velopment may  be  recognised  (aside  from  color 
of  iris)  by  the  fact  that  the  feathering  stops 
short  on  the  bill,  not  coming  down  nearly  to  the 
nostrils  on  top  as  in  the  other  species. 


THE  WHITE-WINGED   COOT.    "WHITE- 
WING." 

Oidemia  deglandi.) 

Best  known  and  most  numerous  of  the  three 
is  the  "White-winged  Coot,"  known  also  as 
the  "White-winged   Scoter,"  "Velvet   Duck,' 


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THE  WHITE-WINGED  COOT      401 

' '  White-winged  Surf  Duck, ' '  or  more  commonly 
and  more  simply  as  the  "White-wing."  This 
species  is  more  common  in  the  bays  and  en- 
closed arms  of  the  sea  than  are  the  others,  which 
prefer  the  open  water.  The  ' '  White-wing"  also 
is  much  larger  in  size.  The  habits  of  the  three 
are  almost  identical. 

In  breeding  dress  and  full  plumage  the  male 
is  glossy  black  all  over  except  the  white  specu- 
lum, (wing-mark),  and  a  tiny  spot  below  and 
behind  the  eye.  The  bill  with  a  large  lump  at 
the  base  and  feathered  to  the  nostrils,  black  at 
the  base  and  on  the  edge  to  the  nail,  on  the  sides 
the  black  merging  into  a  purplish  tinge,  then 
grading  into  deep  red,  whitening  toward  the 
tip,  the  nail  orange.  Iris  white  or  pale  yellow ; 
feet  and  legs  deep  orange  or  bright  red 
with  black  webs;  these  colors  are  duller  in  the 
females. 

The  coloring  of  the  female  is  of  a  brownish 
cast,  the  edges  of  the  feathers  lighter.  She  has 
the  white  speculum  as  in  the  male,  also  the  knob 
at  the  base  of  the  bill,  though  this  is  not  so 
prominent  as  in  the  male.  The  bill  is  plain 
black. 

The  White-winged  Coot  in  any  plumage  may 


402  FEATHERED  GAME 

be  known  by  the  white  speculum.  Young  birds 
are  of  a  dull  grayish  cast. 

The  White-wing  inhabits  both  coasts  of  North 
America,  the  larger  inland  lakes,  and  is  also 
represented  in  the  Old  World  by  a  species  very 
close  to  our  own  bird. 

They  breed  through  the  interior  from  the 
northern  States  of  the  Union  northward  into 
the  Arctic  regions,  and  along  both  coasts  of 
North  America  north  from  the  Gulf  of  St.  Law- 
rence in  the  east  and  from  British  Columbia  in 
the  west,  by  far  the  greater  number  going  well 
beyond  civilization.  They  make  a  large  nest, 
usually  placed  at  the  edge  of  some  body  of 
fresh  water,  line  it  with  down  from  their  own 
bodies,  and  in  it  lay  from  six  to  eight  eggs. 
They  often  breed  far  inland  and  a  long  way 
from  salt  water.  Though  every  season  a  good 
sized  flock  summers  among  the  outer  islands  of 
Casco  Bay  there  is  no  evidence  of  their  breeding 
there,  and  they  are  probably  the  crippled  birds 
left  behind  by  the  spring  flight,  unable  to  con- 
tinue their  journey  at  the  time  and  so  unmated. 

Apparently  slow  and  heavy,  when  once  on  the 
wing  their  flight  is  powerful  and  often  long 
protracted,  usually  traveling  low  over  the  water 


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THE  PATCH-HEAD  COOT  403 

save  when  migrating,  at  which  time  they  often 
rise  to  a  considerable  height. 

Their  food  consists  of  shell-fish,  sea-weeds, 
and  small  fish.  Their  meat  is  dark,  and  except 
when  it  is  from  a  young  bird  can  scarcely  be 
considered  eatable. 

This  is  perhaps  the  most  common  duck  of  the 
Atlantic  coast. 


THE  PATCH-HEAD  COOT. 

(Oidemia  perspicillata.) 

Next  of  the  Scoters  in  point  of  numbers  is  the 
"Patch-head  Coot,"  also  called  "Horse-head," 
"Goggle-nose,"  "Skunk-head,"  and  other 
equally  romantic  and  euphonious  titles.  This 
species  is  fairly  abundant  on  the  eastern  coast 
of  North  America,  going  farther  south  dur- 
ing the  winter  months  than  does  either  of 
the  other  two.  They  are  not  uncommon  in 
Florida,  are  found  in  the  Great  Lakes,  and  are 
also  abundant  on  the  Pacific  coast. 

This  bird  breeds  throughout  the  interior  in 
high  latitudes  and  all  along  the  northern  coast 
of  the  continent. 

The  male  in  breeding  plumage  is  glossy  black, 


404  FEATHERED  GAME 

no  white  on  wing  or  body,  but  a  small  patch  on 
the  forehead  and  another  on  the  back  of  the 
head  extending  downward  over  the  nape.  It 
is  not  uncommon  to  find  one  or  the  other  of 
these  white  spots  missing  in  specimens.  The 
bill  is  peculiarly  marked;  orange  and  white,  at 
the  base  a  squarish  black  patch  edged  with 
carmine.  Iris  pale  yellow ;  feet  and  legs  orange 
with  dusky  webs.  Propellers  of  the  female  are 
duller  in  color,  her  bill  black. 

The  female  is  a  dull-colored,  brownish-black 
bird  with  no  white  on  forehead  or  nape,  but 
some  small  splashes  of  grayish  color  on  the 
sides  of  the  head,  on  the  cheeks  and  ears. 

Young  males  much  like  the  females. 

Length  from  eighteen  to  twenty  inches;  ex- 
tent from  thirty  to  thirty-three  inches.  Weight 
from  two  to  two  and  one-half  pounds. 


AMERICAN  MERGANSER.    POND 
SHELLDRAKE.     GOOSANDER. 

(Merganser  americanus.) 

The  Shelldrake  has  its  representatives  all 
over  the  world,  dwelling  alike  on  the  ocean  or 
on  inland  pond  and  stream.     Three  species  of 


AMERICAN  MERGANSER  405 

the  family  are  regular  residents  of  North  Amer- 
ica, and  one  Old  World  member  of  the  race,  the 
"Smew"  or  "Nun,"  is  an  exceptionally  rare 
visitor  on  the  northeastern  coast  line.  All  have 
long,  narrow,  cylindrical  bills  with  notched  and 
toothed  edges — even  the  tongues  are  serrated 
to  hold  more  firmly  when  they  close  upon  their 
slippery  prey,  for  this  is  a  family  of  "fishing 
ducks,"  and  are  sometimes  called  "Saw-bills" 
from  these  saw-like  teeth  along  the  edges  of 
the  bill.  These  barb-like  lamellae  are  indispen- 
sible  to  the  owner,  making  the  bill  perfection 
for  its  purpose  and  enabling  the  bird  to  hold 
fast  to  all  on  which  it  closes,  as  tightly  as  a  pol- 
itician with  a  "pull." 

Any  one  of  the  Shelldrakes  is  more  than  half 
fish.  Seen  under  the  water  in  pursuit  of  a 
breakfast  or  dodging  about  to  escape  capture 
when  wounded  the  resemblance  to  some  finny 
dweller  of  the  sea  is  very  marked;  head  and 
neck  outstretched,  every  feather  hugged  closely 
to  the  body,  the  half-opened  wings  like  large  fins 
aiding  the  feet  in  their  work,  he  goes  shooting 
through  the  water  like  a  flash. 

The  Shelldrake's  body  is  more  compressed 
and  somewhat  longer  in  proportion  to  its  size 


406  FEATHERED  GAME 

than  are  the  bodies  of  most  ducks.  This  model 
must  be  necessary,  for  none  of  the  family  need 
such  speed  in  the  water  as  these  which  feed 
upon  an  active  prey  which  must  often  be  pur- 
sued some  distance  before  it  is  captured.  It 
is  a  form  easily  driven  through  the  air,  too,  if 
we  may  argue  anything  from  the  forelaying 
necessary  to  stop  a  crossing  bird  in  shooting. 

Shelldrakes  are  generally  found  in  flocks 
ranging  from  half-a-dozen  to  twenty,  rarely 
more  except  in  migration.  Commonly,  unless 
there  is  no  danger,  they  place  a  watcher  over 
the  flock  while  feeding.  Usually  all  but  the 
bird  on  "sentry  go"  dive  together  while  fish- 
ing so  as  to  leave  less  opportunity  for  their 
prey  to  escape.  Often  they  drive  a  school  of 
small  fry  into  shoal  water  and  pursuing  them 
into  a  narrow  place  may  even  force  their  vic- 
tims high  and  dry  ashore  by  their  furious 
rushes.  In  such  a  case  they  will  almost  finish 
a  school,  for  they  are  very  voracious  feeders. 

The  Goosander  is  the  largest  of  the  Amer- 
ican Shelldrakes  and  somewhat  rare  in  the  sea 
except  in  the  winter  months  when  the  few  that 
do  not  go  south  are  compelled  to  dwell  upon 
the  salt  water  or  in  the  cabinet  of  some  collec- 


OS 

z 

< 

O 


AMERICAN  MERGANSER  407 

tor.  The  male  bird  is  a  handsome  fellow,  with 
a  brilliant  dark  green  head  and  neck.  The  un- 
der parts  of  the  body  are  of  a  delicate  salmon 
tint,  growing  fainter  and  changing  to  white  on 
the  flanks  and  hinder  parts;  there  are  also 
some  fine  dusky  pencillings  here.  In  stuffed 
specimens  the  salmon  tint  below  fades  very 
quickly,  leaving  scarcely  a  trace  of  itself. 
Back  and  upper  parts  glossy  black,  fading  to 
ashy  gray  on  the  rump  and  tail.  The  wings 
are  mostly  white  above,  crossed  by  a  black 
bar  at  the  tips  of  the  greater  coverts  and 
forming  a  part  of  the  frame  for  the  white 
speculum.  The  wing  quills  are  dusky,  nearly 
black.  The  bill  and  feet  are  bright  vermilion; 
bill  black  on  the  ridge  and  having  a  black  hook 
on  the  end.  Iris  carmine.  The  male  is  but 
slightly  crested,  this  adornment  being  consider- 
ably more  prominent  in  the  female,  though  even 
here  rather  thin  and  loose-feathered. 

The  female's  head  and  neck  are  reddish  brown 
in  color,  with  a  whitish  throat.  On  the  back  a 
dull,  bluish  gray.  There  is  less  of  the  salmon 
tint  below  than  appears  in  the  dress  of  the  male. 
Speculum  white.  Bill  and  feet  same  color  as 
the  male's,  but  iris  yellowish. 


408  FEATHERED  GAME 

These  birds  average  about  four  and  one-quar- 
ter pounds  weight  for  the  males,  the  females 
running  from  one-half  pound  to  one  pound  less. 
In  length  they  vary  from  twenty-four  to  twenty- 
seven  inches;  in  extent  about  thirty-five. 

They  nest  upon  the  ground  or  in  the  hollow  of 
a  tree,  laying  from  six  to  eight  eggs.  They 
usually  choose  the  edge  of  some  secluded  fresh 
water  pond  for  their  home,  but  often  make  their 
nest  a  long  distance  from  water  if  unable  to 
find  a  suitable  place  near  it.  Safety  is  the 
prime  requisite — convenience  comes  after. 
They  breed  anywhere  from  our  northern  States 
into  the  Arctic  regions  and  are  one  of  the  com- 
monest of  the  breeding  waterfowl  on  our  Maine 
lakes.  They  winter  in  moderate  numbers  in 
our  coast  waters,  though  the  greater  bulk  of 
these  birds  have  gone  south  at  this  season. 


THE  RED-BREASTED  MERGANSER. 

(Merganser  serrator.) 

Most  common  of  all  in  New  England  coast 
waters  is  the  Red-breasted  Merganser,  the 
Shelldrake  alongshore,  where  many  gunners 
know  no  other  species  than  this  bird.  He  winters 


RED-BREASTED  MERGANSER      409 

in  our  bays  and  rivers  when  lie  can,  preferring 
tide-waters  and  the  arms  of  the  sea,  but  if  this 
is  not  permitted  he  can  do  very  well  "off  shore" 
and  is  one  of  the  most  numerous  of  the  winter 
dwellers  on  our  coast.  Still,  the  greater  num- 
ber have  gone  on  to  warmer  climates,  and  Shell- 
drakes  are  here  in  larger  numbers  during  the 
flight  seasons  than  at  any  other  time. 

If  in  the  latter  half  of  April  or  the  first  of 
May  the  gunner  turns  out  before  daylight  and 
takes  his  stand  upon  a  lonely  ledge  or  the  point 
of  some  uninhabited  island  of  the  sea  and  puts 
out  his  wooden  decoys  in  a  life-like  group  within 
good  shot  reach  of  the  grim-fronted .  rock  be- 
hind which  he  lies  hidden,  he  is  likely  to  find 
good  sport  for  two  or  three  hours  while  the 
Shelldrakes  are  flying  in  from  "outside"  where 
they  have  been  asleep  on  the  breast  of  the  At- 
lantic. 

The  moon  is  paling  and  the  stars  are  losing 
their  lustre.  The  day  is  coming  and  across  the 
eastern  sky  a  pink  light  is  creeping.  The  sleepy 
world  is  rubbing  its  eyes  and  making  ready  for 
its  round  of  toil.  The  water  is  yet  gray  and 
uncertain  and  the  masses  of  the  woods  on  the 
islands  round  about  are  solid  and  sombre.     But 


410  FEATHERED  GAME 

a  tiny  little  songsparrow,  perched  near  by  and 
quivering  with  the  joy  of  springtime,  sends 
forth  his  brave  little  song  in  merry  greeting; 
the  awakened  crow  gives  out  an  occasional  caw- 
ing as  he  starts  forth  from  the  pines  for  his 
breakfast  on  the  shore,  and  just  out  of  range 
of  the  watcher's  gun  a  bunch  of  big  blue  herons 
playing  " follow  my  leader"  passes  by  in  slow 
and  dignified  flight,  northward  bound.  The  de- 
coys anchored  across  the  gentle  breeze  are  rid- 
ing motionless  in  a  calm  streak  under  the  shelter 
of  the  ledge,  but  in  plain  sight  and  sure  to  be 
noticed  by  any  passing  flock  coming  in  from 
sea,  and  all  is  ready. 

While  still  too  dark  for  him  to  shoot,  the  gun- 
ner has  seen  shadowy  forms  flitting  past  in  the 
uncertain  foreground,  and  now  with  the  in- 
creasing light  comes  the  hurry  and  rustle  of 
wings  carrying  hungry  birds  to  their  feeding 
grounds  inshore. 

Here  they  are!  Where  they  came  from  no 
one  knows,  for  two  seconds  ago  not  a  feather 
was  in  sight,  but  out  of  the  water  they  appear 
as  if  by  magic  and  are  almost  upon  the  gunner 
before  he  sees  them.  They  have  sighted  the 
decoys  and  swing  in  toward  their  new-found 


OS 
LU 
CO 

z 

< 

O 


Q 
w 
s- 
cn 
< 

a: 

X 

I 

a 


KED-BREASTED  MERGANSER     411 

friends  with  wings  stiffly  set  and  necks  out- 
stretched. In  this  strange  light  they  look  as 
large  as  geese.  Now  is  the  time!  As  they 
bunch  and  wheel,  convinced  of  the  cheat,  let  go 
at  them  with  both  barrels,  and  in  answer  to  the 
sudden  roar  of  your  discharge  down  go  the 
splashing  forms  of  dead  and  wounded  birds 
among  the  motionless  decoys.  While  the  boom 
of  your  gun  goes  echoing  about  from  cape 
to  promontory  in  circuit  of  the  bay  as  if 
a  battery  was  stationed  on  every  headland,  you 
are  hurrying  down  to  the  boat  to  gather  up  the 
spoil.  You  pat  yourself  on  the  back — (mentally, 
of  course,) — and  think,  "What  a  streak  of 
shooting  I  have  developed!"  when,  hello! 
Only  one  bird!  Ah,  there  is  one  more  swim- 
ming away  and  here  another,  and  popping  sud- 
denly out  of  the  depths  still  another,  but  most  of 
them  active  and  doing  their  best  to  put  a  safe 
distance  between  your  dangerous  company  and 
themselves,  swimming  with  their  bodies  half 
submerged  and  a  watchful  eye  behind  them. 
You  have  reloaded  and  are  now  tugging  as  for 
your  life  at  the  oars  to  gather  in  those  that  seem 
to  be  the  most  active,  and  so  pass  by  the  dead  as 
they  will  keep  until  your  return.    But  you  don't 


412  FEATHERED  GAME 

seem  to  gain  much  on  the  cripple  and  you  think 
you  will  try  him  with  a  charge  of  4's.  Bang! 
and  when  the  smoke  has  drifted  aside — no 
Shelldrake.  He  is  under  and  won't  come  up 
again  inside  of  two  hundred  yards.  After  star- 
ing in  vain  for  this  bird,  which  has  come  up  very 
cautiously  and  just  poking  his  head  above  water 
for  a  breath  has  as  silently  gone  under  again 
for  another  stretch  seaward,  you  turn  your  at- 
tention to  a  second  invalid  which  mayhap  leads 
you  a  similar  chase.  Perhaps  you  capture  him 
— perhaps  not.  Your  chances  are  about  even 
on  either  bet.  Just  here  you  see  a  large  flock 
making  off  from  your  decoys,  scared  away  by 
your  antics  in  the  boat,  so  you  decide  to  pick  up 
the  dead  and  get  back  into  the  blind.  As  you 
pull  up  to  the  two  or  three  birds  left  limp  and 
lifeless  in  the  water  when  you  went  out  you  find 
them  right  side  up  again  and  not  more  than  half 
as  dead  as  you  had  thought,  and  these,  too,  com- 
mence making  frantic  efforts  to  get  under  water, 
with  what  success  their  condition  permits.  One 
gets  almost  under  and  is  now  politely  "shak- 
ing a  day-day"  with  one  red  foot  in  the  air,  dis- 
appearing entirely  just  as  you  pull  trigger.     If 


RED-BREASTED  MERGANSER      413 

you  have  good  luck  you  may  get  one  bird,  and 
then  back  into  the  blind  to  try  for  more. 

For  two  or  three  hours  in  the  morning  fair 
sport  may  be  had  over  decoys,  but  when  the  sun 
is  fairly  on  his  daily  round  the  birds  are  mostly 
on  their  feeding  grounds  and  not  moving  much, 
so  that  few  come  near  the  "tolers."  Now  is 
the  time  to  "scull"  them  in  the  float.  It  is  no 
easy  matter  to  get  within  killing  distance  of  a 
Shelldrake  even  in  the  innocent  looking  "gun- 
ning punt,"  for  he  is  by  no  means  careless  or 
stupid.  For  my  own  part  I  think  the  labor  is 
too  severe  and  the  reward  too  uncertain,  and 
seldom  take  the  trouble  to  pursue  them  in  a 
float,  no  matter  how  sharp  an  attack  of  "gun 
fever"  is  upon  me.  "The  game  is  hardly 
worth  the  candle." 

The  flesh  of  this  or  any  other  of  the  family 
save  the  Hooded  Merganser  is  not  noted  for  any 
especial  excellence  as  food,  most  people  pre- 
ferring to  eat  fish  in  its  ordinary  form. 

The  Red-breasted  Merganser  is  smaller  than 
the  Goosander  and  has  a  pronounced  crest, 
which,  though  thin  and  flimsy  in  the  female,  is 
present  in  both  sexes.     The  male  bird's  head  is 


414  FEATHERED  GAME 

rich,  dark  green,  this  color  running  down  the 
neck,  stopping  abruptly  on  the  lower  neck  and 
breast.  In  front  the  white  becomes  a  very  light 
reddish  brown,  streaked  with  black.  Under- 
neath a  very  light  salmon  color.  Wing  for  the 
most  part  black,  but  with  a  few  feathers  in  the 
front  of  it  pure  white  with  black  edges.  Upper 
back  black,  also  interscapulars  and  inner  scap- 
ulars. Lower  back  grey,  waved  with  darker 
gray  and  dusky.  Bill  vermilion  red,  dusky  on 
top  and  black  hooked.  Iris  bright  red ;  feet  ver- 
milion. 

The  female  is  clad  in  a  modest  suit  of  gray 
and  white.  The  head  and  upper  neck  is  a 
brownish  red  with  a  patch  of  white  on  the  throat 
and  chin,  this  shading  gradually  into  the  red- 
dish color  of  the  head.  The  upper  parts  ashy 
or  bluish  gray ;  below  white.  A  white  patch  in 
the  wing.  Feet,  iris  and  bill  as  in  the  male  bird. 
The  females  of  this  and  the  preceding  species 
are  very  similar  in  their  dress  but  may  usually 
be  distinguished  by  their  size,  the  female  of 
this  bird  being  much  smaller  and  lacking  much 
of  the  delicate  salmon  tinge  on  the  under  parts, 
but  if  there  is  any  doubt  the  position  of  the 
nostril  will  show  to  which  species  a  specimen 


OS 
W 

if) 
z 

< 
O 

LP 


Q 
Q 

c 

0 

x 


HOODED  MERGANSER  415 

belongs,  the  Goosander's  being  placed  near  the 
middle  of  the  bill  and  that  of  the  present  species 
being  placed  near  the  base. 

The  length  of  this  species  is  from  twenty- 
two  to  twenty-four  inches;  its  extent  from 
thirty-three  to  thirty-five  inches.  Weight  from 
two  to  two  and  one-half  pounds. 

Most  of  the  Shelldrakes  nest  well  beyond  our 
borders,  but  breeding  birds  of  this  species  are 
not  uncommon  in  Maine.  It  is  found  also  in 
northern  Europe  and  Asia. 


HOODED  MERGANSER. 

(Lophodytes  cucullatus.) 

The  smallest  and  most  strikingly  marked 
species  of  the  family  which  we  have  in  North 
America  is  our  beautiful  little  Hooded  Mergan- 
ser. In  New  England  this  is  the  least  common 
of  our  Shelldrakes,  and  this  species  is  found 
only  in  North  America. 

In  many  localities  of  the  south  and  west  this 
bird  is  called  the  "Wood  Duck."  Indeed  it 
deserves  the  title  nearly  as  well  as  does  the 
bird  which  we  have  so  named  in  New  England, 
having  the  same  habit  of  nesting  in  the  hollows 


416  FEATHERED  GAME 

of  dead  stubs,  and  in  traveling  about  among 
the  branches  it  is  equally  expert  with  our  Sum- 
mer Duck. 

This  Merganser  breeds  all  through  the  United 
States  and  northward,  wintering  from  the  Mid- 
dle States  south  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  The 
nest  ready  for  the  hatching  contains  from  six 
to  eight  buff-colored  eggs.  "When  the  infants 
are  old  enough,  if  the  nest  is  distant  from  pond 
or  stream,  the  mother  bird  carries  them  in  her 
beak  and  puts  them  down  on  the  edges  of  the 
water  one  after  another,  until  her  brood  is  at 
the  new  home  where  she  plans  to  put  the  fin- 
ishing touches  to  their  education. 

Their  life,  like  that  of  most  ducklings,  is  a 
most  uncertain  affair,  likely  to  be  terminated 
at  any  minute  by  the  sudden  snap  of  hungry 
mink  or  predatory  hawk — even  the  finny 
dweller  of  the  pond  showing  an  appreciative 
taste  in  the  direction  of  tender  young  ducks. 
But  the  baby  Shelldrake  of  either  species  is  far 
and  away  more  lively  and  better  able  to  take 
care  of  himself  than  is  any  other  young  duck  of 
his  age,  and  when  he  gets  his  growth  will  avenge 
his  family's  wrongs  upon  the  enemy,  whether 


HOODED  MERGANSER  417 

bass  or  pickerel,  by  eating  thousands  of  small 
fry. 

The  male  bird  has  his  crest  evenly  and  clean- 
ly cut;  from  forehead  to  nape  a  large  white 
area  of  hair-like  feathers,  bordered  and  sharply 
defined  with  jet  black,  this  color  also  on  head, 
neck  and  upper  parts;  lower  part  of  neck  and 
under  parts  white;  the  sides  and  flanks  brown- 
ish red,  finely  and  evenly  pencilled  with  black 
lines.  White  speculum  in  wing,  with  two  black 
bars  crossing  it.  Bill  black;  eyes  yellow,  feet 
light  brown  with  black  nails. 

The  head  and  neck  of  the  female  is  a  grayish 
brown,  darker  on  the  crown.  Upper  parts  and 
sides  a  dull  dark  brown.  Feet,  eyes  and  bill 
as  in  the  male. 

The  length  of  this  species  is  about  eighteen 
inches;  the  extent  from  twenty-four  to  twenty- 
six  inches. 

This  species  is  much  more  of  a  vegetarian 
than  any  other  of  the  family,  and  in  conse- 
quence its  flesh  ranks  higher  as  food.  As  a 
table  bird  it  is  nearly  as  good  as  any  of  the 
shoal  water  ducks. 


418      FEATHERED  GAME 


THE  KUDDY  DUCK. 

(Erismatura  jamaicensis.) 

This  is  strictly  an  American  species.  Its 
range  is  the  whole  North  American  continent, 
except  possibly  the  northwest  coast,  passing 
southward  through  the  West  Indies  and  Cen- 
tral America  to  the  northern  shores  of  South 
America.  In  any  part  of  this  vast  extent  of 
country  it  is  likely  to  be  found  during  the 
breeding  season,  making  for  so  small  a  fowl  a 
large  nest,  near  either  salt  or  fresh  water,  and 
as  often  as  not,  building  on  some  floating  mass 
of  rubbish,  making  a  sort  of  houseboat  for  the 
family  during  the  hot  weather.  The  clutch  of 
eggs  is  larger  than  is  common  in  a  duck's  nest 
— sometimes  a  dozen  or  more  to  a  setting,  gen- 
erally of  pale  buff  color  and  quite  large  in  pro- 
portion to  the  size  of  the  bird.  As  to  its  choice 
of  breeding  country  and  the  range  of  its  travels, 
any  place  where  there  is  water  enough  to  float 
a  duck  and  food  enough  either  of  vegetable 
matter  or  of  shellfish  to  keep  its  little  body 
plump  upon  is  apt  to  receive  a  call  from  this 
small  rover. 


THE  RUDDY  DUCK  419 

I  must  confess  to  a  certain  fondness  for  this 
small  citizen.  He  is  a  most  interesting  little 
chap  and  a  mighty  sweet  morsel  to  put  before 
your  company  at  the  table.  His  flesh  is  really 
very  good  and  of  delicate  flavor.  He  is  a  vege- 
table feeder  when  he  may  have  his  choice  in  the 
matter. 

The  ''Ruddy"  is  much  less  suspicious  of  his 
enemies  than  most  waterfowl,  and  the  de- 
stroyer, if  he  chooses,  may  sit  up  without  any 
precaution  and  paddle  close  up  to  their  flocks 
on  the  water,  delivering  his  fire  at  what  range 
he  may  prefer.  If  there  are  any  survivors 
from  the  first  discharge  it  will  not  commonly 
be  a  matter  of  difficulty  to  get  another  shot,  for 
they  will  probably  spatter  along  the  water  for 
a  hundred  yards  or  so,  making  a  great  fuss 
about  getting  under  way,  and  as  soon  as  they 
are  fairly  into  the  air  dropping  into  the  water 
again  without  checking  their  speed,  sliding 
along  the  surface  and  scattering  spray  like  a 
"whistler,"  but  allowing  the  second  approach 
to  be  made  with  hardly  more  trouble  than  be- 
fore. The  wings  are  small  in  proportion  to 
their  chunky  little  bodies  and  their  flight  at  the 
outset  is  heavy  and  labored,  but  once  fairly 


420  FEATHERED  GAME 

going  they  fly  fast,  their  wings  making  consid- 
erable noise  from  their  rapid  motion.  "With  all 
these  drawbacks  the  Ruddy  is  wonderfully 
quick  either  in  the  air  or  on  the  water.  He  is 
quite  capable  of  taking  care  of  himself  once  he 
gets  it  into  his  head  that  harm  is  intended.  He 
can  get  under  water  with  a  celerity  that  falls 
little  short  of  the  marvelous.  One  of  his  tricks 
has  always  been  a  mystery  to  me :  he  will  sink 
himself  completely  beneath  the  surface  without 
diving — simply  settles  down  like  a  sinking 
craft  and  beats  a  retreat  under  water  where 
he  is  as  much  at  home  as  any  duck  of  them  all. 
I  have  seen  black  ducks  when  they  thought 
themselves  undiscovered  and  their  wit  said  it 
was  dangerous  to  fly,  sink  themselves  so  that 
only  the  head  showed  above  water,  and  have 
seen  shelldrakes  settle  down  in  the  same  style 
until  only  their  heads  were  visible  and  so  go 
darting  and  zig-zagging  away  when  they  had 
flown  in  and  settled  among  a  bunch  of  decoys 
before  discovering  the  cheat,  but  I  have  never 
seen  any  of  these  go  completely  below  the  sur- 
face without  an  attempt  at  diving  as  does  the 
Ruddy. 

On  the  water  he  rides  so  much  deeper  than 


u 

_ 

Q 

>* 
Q 
Q 
D 


THE  RUDDY  DUCK  421 

his  neighbors  that  he  looks  like  a  craft  danger- 
ously overloaded.  In  swimming  he  often  erects 
his  spiny  tail  straight  over  his  back  and  jets  it 
in  fan  fashion,  presenting  a  curious  appearance 
as  if  using  it  for  a  sail. 

His  feet  are  proportionately  large,  but  Mr. 
Ruddy  is  amply  able  to  manage  them  and  swims 
easily  and  at  good  speed. 

The  Ruddy  will  decoy  to  anything  in  the 
shape  of  ducks  and  be  glad  of  the  chance.  The 
bird  is  called  by  a  dozen  or  more  titles — any 
name  from  teal  to  coot  will  do — but  most  of 
them  meanly  twit  him  of  the  scrubbing  brush 
which  he  wears  in  the  place  of  a  tail,  such  as, 
"Stiff  Tail,"  "Spine  Tail,"  "Broad-billed 
Coot,"  "Bumblebee  Coot,"  "Salt  Water  Teal," 
and  "Gray  Teal."  The  last  two  are  the  names 
to  give  him  when  you  wish  to  sell  him.  The 
average  man  will  praise  any  duck's  flesh  if  he 
thinks  it  is  a  "teal." 

For  a  short  time  in  the  spring,  about  the  sea- 
son of  the  Easter  bonnet  and  the  relapse  into 
the  church-going  habit  by  the  young  man  of 
fashion,  the  Ruddy  Duck  blossoms  out  in  a  suit 
which  is  the  equal  in  style  of  any  donned  by 
his  broad-footed  neighbors.     Brightly  colored 


422  FEATHERED  GAME 

but  neither  flashy  nor  gaudy,  it  is  a  beautiful 
garb  and  the  pity  is  that  it  does  not  last  longer. 
The  upper  part  of  the  head  and  nape  glossy 
black.  Sides  of  head,  cheeks  and  chin  white. 
Throat,  neck  all  around,  scapulars,  flanks  and 
upper  back  chestnut  red.  Wing  coverts,  rump 
and  lower  back  grayish  brown.  Wing  quills 
dusky  brown,  spotted  on  the  edges  with  gray. 
Tail  dusky  brown,  the  feathers  stiff  and  harsh 
and  the  coverts  growing  to  no  great  length  over 
the  quills.  Under  parts  silvery  white,  slightly 
rusted  on  the  breast.  Under  tail  coverts 
grayish  or  white.  Bill,  legs  and  feet  grayish 
blue;  webs  darker,  nearly  black.  Iris  reddish 
brown.  Length  from  fifteen  to  sixteen  and  one- 
half  inches;  extent  from  twenty  to  twenty-four 
inches. 

The  female  is  of  duller  hues  than  her  mate — 
the  rule  in  duck  coloring.  On  the  top  of  the 
head  dark  brown  instead  of  the  jet  black  of  the 
male.  Cheeks  only  a  little  lighter  than  the  rest 
of  the  face,  with  a  narrow  stripe  of  white  run- 
ning from  the  base  of  the  bill  beneath  the  eye 
to  the  nape.  Chin  white.  Neck  and  throat 
brownish ;  upper  breast  yellowish  brown ;  lower 
parts  silvery  white;  flanks  barred  with  brown; 


THE  BUDDY  DUCK  423 

tail  same  color  as  the  back;  under  tail  coverts 
white.     She  is  a  bit  smaller  than  the  male. 

This  species  can  hardly  be  mistaken  for  any 
other  duck  of  the  northeast  if  notice  is  given  to 
the  peculiarities  of  the  tail  feathers  and  the 
shortness  of  their  coverts. 


INDEX 


A. 

Actitis  macularia   

Actodromas  bairdii 

"  fuscicollis  .  .  . 

maculata 
minutilla    . . . 

iEgialitis  meloda 

"  "       circum- 

cincta   

^Egialitis  nivosa    

semipalmata  . . . 

Aix  sponsa 

americana   

American  Avocet   

Dunlin   

Eider   

"  "       nest    of.. 

371 
"  Golden-eye,  341 

"  "       "      nest 

"  "       Plover. . 

Merganser    . .  .  . 
"  Oyster  Catcher. 

"  Scoter  

Snipe  

"  Widgeon   

"  Woodcock   

Anas  boschas    

"       obscura   

"         rubripes. .  . . 
Anser  albifrons  gambeli.. 

Arenaria  morinella 

Arquatella  maritima 

Avocet    

Aythya  affinis 

"       americana 

"       collaris    

"       marila   

"       vallisneria 


B. 

193       Baird's  Sandpiper 151 

151      Barrow's  Golden-eye 351 

153  Bartram's  Sandpiper    ....201 

159  "                    "          nest 

153  and  eggs 202 

88  Bartramia  longicauda 201 

Beach  Bird 168 

89  Beetlehead  Plover    70-169 

86  "                "               nest 

85  "       -breasted  Plover ....   70 

318       Belted  Piping  Plover 86 

327      Birch   Partridge 6,   16 

qir  Black-bellied  Sandpiper. .  .166 

16q  "       Brant 273 

oni  "       -breasted  Plover ... .   70 

"       Duck,  181,  274,  279, 

372  295,  307,  313,  314,  420 

0K7  "     nest  and   eggs 

343  of 285 

wo       Black  Gsouse   1 

4Q4  "       Head 339 

qi  "       -headed  Turnstone..   97 

39J  "       Mallard   289 

i  on  "       Oyster-Catcher    ....   92 

295  "       Rail 238,   239 

jng       Blarting  Duck 294 

9„.       Bluebill,  Greater 334 

7,1%  "               "        nest  of,  335 

'a  "         Lesser    337 

£1*  Blue-winged  Teal,  300, 

„*  301,  304 

94       Bob   White 57 

1^3  Bonaparte's  Sandpiper. ..  .158 

97       Bonasa 66 

337  "         umbellus   16 

326  "                 "         sabini...    17 

340  "                 "         togata..    18 

334  "                 «        umbel- 

331  loides    17 

425 


426 


INDEX 


Brant  Goose 270 

"       Black 273 

Branta  bernicla  glaucogas- 

tra    270 

Branta  canadensis 252 

"  "  hutch- 

insii 269 

Brent  Goose 273 

Brewer's  Duck 289 

Bridal  Duck 318 

Broadbill 334 

Coot   421 

Brownback 145,  172 

Brown   Coot 397 

Buff-breasted  Sandpiper. .  .214 

Bufflehead   354 

nest   of 355 

Bull-bead  70 

Bumblebee    Coot 421 

Burrowing   of   Grouse,   21, 

22,  23 
"  "  Ptarmigan,    56 

Butterball   354 

Butter-billed  Coot... 390,  397 

C. 

Calico   Back 94 

Calidris  arenaria 168 

Camptolaimus  labradorius,368 
Canachites  canadensis ... .  1 
Canada  Goose  ..248,  252,  269 

"      nest  of 267 

Canada    Grouse 1 

Canvasback;,  279,  296,  297, 

327,  331 
"  nesting  of..  .  .331 

Carolina    Rail 231 

Cbaradrius  dominicus 78 

Chaulelasmus  streperus.  .  .291 

Chen  hyperborea   250 

"  "  nivalis.  .248 

"     rossii   250 

Chicken    Plover   94 

Chicken,  Prairie,  4,  10,  11, 

12,  13 

Chucklehead    70 

Cinnamon  Teal 301,  306 

Clangula  americana    341 

"  islandica    351 


Clapper    Rail 227 

'Cocks   113-116 

Cocker    Spaniel 34 

Colinus  virginianus 57 

Common  Brant 270 

Coot 243,  245,  359,  379 

"      Butter-billed 390 

"      Broad-billed    421 

"      Brown    397 

"      Bumblebee   421 

"       Gray 397 

"      Goggle-nose   404 

"       Horse-head    404 

"      Patch-head 404 

"      Skunk-head 404 

"      White-winged 400 

Corn   Crake 240 

Creek  Duck 294 

Crex   crex 240 

Crow  Duck 245 

Crymophilus   fulicarius.  . .  101 

Curlew   ..  .  .• 75 

"         Esquimaux    220 

"         Hudsonian 218 

"         Jack   218 

Sickle-billed    215 

D. 

Dafila  acuta 

Diaz'  Duck 

Dipper    

Dough    Bird 

Dowitcher 145,  149, 

Drumming  of  Grouse .  .  23, 

"    Snipe   

"    Woodcock, 
109, 
Duck,  American  Eider .... 
"       Barrow's  Golden- 
eye    

Duck,  Black   

"      Mallard 

"       Bridal    

"       Canvasback   . . 

"       Cinnamon  Teal,  301 


Crow 
Diaz'  . 
Dusky 


312 
289 
354 
220 
168 
24 
131 

110 
371 

351 

279 
289 
318 
331 

306 
.245 
.289 
.279 


INDEX 


427 


Duck,  Eider,     371 

"       Florida    Black 288 

"       Gadwall 291 

"       Gray 291 

"       Golden-eyed 341 

"       Greater  Scaup 326 

"       Harlequin    365 

"       Hudson  Bay... 288,  291 

King   Eider 387 

"       Labrador 368 

"       Lesser   Scaup 337 

Long- tailed   357 

"       Mallard    274 

"       Mandarin 319 

"       Pintail   312 

"       Raft   339 

"       Red-head   326 

"      Ring-necked     340 

"       River 294,  297 

Ruddy    418 

"       Sea 332,  371 

"       Scaup 334 

"       Scoter   

"           "        American .  . .  390 
"        Patch-head..  404 
White- 
winged  400 

Duck,"Shoveller 308 

Spirit 354 

"       Spoonbill 308 

"       Sprigtail    312 

"       Summer   318 

"       Surf 332,    379 

Texan   288 

"       Widgeon 295 

"  "  European,300 

"       Wood    318 

"       Velvet 400 

Dusky  Duck 279 

E. 

Eider,  American 371,  388 

"       -down   371 

"        Greenland  386 

"        King    387 

English  Snipe...  130,  131,  160 

Sparrow 95,  237 

Ereunetes    pusillus 153 

Erismatura  jamaicensis. .  .418 


Esquimaux  Curlew 220 

European  Corn  Crake 240 

Eider 386 

Teal.. 301,  302,  303 

"  Widgeon   300 

"  Woodcock 122 

F. 

Fall  Snipe 167 

Flapper    286 

Float,   Gunning,   255,   257, 

336,  392 

Floridan  Black  Duck 288 

Florida  Gallinule 241,  242 

Fool  Hen 6 

Franklin's   Grouse 1,     9 

Fulica  americana 245 

G. 

Gadwall   291 

Gallinago  delicata 130 

Gallinules    245 

Gallinule,     Florida.  .241,    242 

Gallinula  galeata 242 

Gallinule,  Purple 241 

nest 241 

Game   protection 127 

Godwit,  Great  Marbled.  ..  172 

"  Hudsonian 174 

Goggle-nose 404 

Golden-eyed  Duck    341 

"         "     Barrow's 

351 

Golden  Plover 74,  76,  78 

Geese,  long-necked  269 

"        short-necked 269 

Goosander 404,  414 

Goose 125,    313 

"       Brant 273 

"       Brent   273 

"       Burnt 273 

"       Canada 252 

"       Greater  Snow 248 

"       Hutchins' 269 

"       Lesser  Snow 250 

"       Ross'  Snow 250 

"       White-fronted 251 

Grassbird.  .  .138,  144,  152, 

159,  168,  183,  200 


428 


INDEX 


Grass  Plover    201 

"       Snipe    160 

Gray  Back    170 

«      Coot 397 

"      Duck 291,  315 

"      Ruffed  Grouse 17 

"      Teal   421 

Greater  Bluebill    334 

Scaup    334 

"  Snow   Goose 248 

"  Yellow-legs .  .  .  144, 

176,  177,  197 

Great  Marbled  Godwit 172 

"  "  "     nest,173 

Grebe   245 

Greenland  Eider,  372,  386,  387 

Green-winged  Teal 300, 

306,  308 

Grouse  dog 47,  48,  49 

"         Pinnated    14 

Ruffed    16 

"         Spruce    1 

"  Willow    51 

Gunning   float... 255,   257, 

336,  392 

H. 

Haematopus  palliatus 91 

Harelda   hyemalis 357 

Harlequin  Duck 365 

"  "  nest  of... 367 
Heath  Hen    9 

"         "     nest  and  eggs. .    14 

Helodromas  solitarius 188 

Hen,  Prairie 11 

Himantopus  mexicanus .  .  .  99 
Histrionicus  histrionicus. .  365 
Hooded  Merganser   . .  .125, 

414,  415 
nest  of 

415,  416 

Honker 266 

Horse-head   Coot 403 

Hound    362 

Hudson  Bay  Duck... 287,  291 
Hudsonian  Curlew.  .  .218,  221 

Godwit    174 

"  "  nest.  . .175 
Hutehin's    Goose 269 


I. 

Ionornis  martinica 241 

J. 

Jack  Curlew    218 

"     Snipe 130,  160 

K. 

Kildee    83 

Kildeer  Plover 83 

King  Eider 370,   387 

"  "     nesting    of.... 390 

"      Rail   223 

Knot 170 

L. 

Labrador  Duck    368 

Twisters 126 

Lagopus  lagopus 51 

Lawyer    100 

Least   Sandpiper 153 

Lesser  Bluebill    337 

Snow  Goose 250 

Yellow-legs.  ..150,  186 
Limosa  fedoa   172 

"  hsemastica 174 

Longbill...ll5,  122,  127,  161 
Long-billed   Dowitcher.  .  .  .  148 

"    -necked    Geese 269 

Longshanks  100 

Long-tail    359 

Long-tailed    Duck 357 

Lophodytes  cucullatus. .  .  .415 
Lord  and  Lady 365 

M. 
Macrorhamphus  griseus.  .  .145 
Macrorhamphus        griseus 

scolopaceus    148 

Mallard  Duck.. 274,   279, 

292,  314,  388 
"  "     nest  and 

eggs    275 

Mallard  Duck,  Black 289 

Greenland.  276 

Mandarin  Duck 319 

Mareca  americana 295 

Marsh  Plover 160 

Meadow  Snipe 160 


INDEX 


429 


Merganser  americanus.  . .  .404 
"  redbreasted   ...408 

"  serrator   408 

Micropalama   himantopus .  149 

Mongrels    385 

Mud  Hen 243,  245 

"         "  nest  and  eggs . . . 246 

N. 

Nettion  carolinensis 300 

Numenius   borealis 220 

"  hudsonicus   .  . . 

218,  220 

"  longirostris  ..  .215 

Nun    405 

O. 
Octhodromus  wilsonius  ...   90 

Oideniia  americana 390 

"  deglandi    400 

perspicillata   ....404 

Old  Injun 362 

"     Squaw,  312,  357,  362,  378 

"     Wife  362 

Oregon  grouse 17 

Ox-eye    70 

Oxyechus  vociferus 83 

P. 

Pale-belly    78 

Pale  Ring-neck 88 

Partridge 16 

Birch    16 

Spruce    1 

Patch-head  Coot,  397,  399,  403 

Pavoncella  pugnax 199 

Pectoral  Sandpiper 152 

Pelidna  alpina  sakhalina.  .166 

Peeps    151,  152,   153 

Peet-Weet    193 

Phalaropus  lobatus 102 

Phalarope,  Northern 102 

Red    101 

"  "    -necked  . . .102 

"  Wilson's    105 

Pheasant    16 

Philohela  minor 108 


Pinnated  grouse  

Pintail   Duck.  ..279,  312, 

Piping  Plover 

Plover  

"       Beetlehead    

"       Belted   Piping 

Black-breasted   . .  .  . 

"       Bull-head    

"       Chuckle-head   

"       Golden 74,  76 

"       Grass 

"       Greater  yellow  legs 

"       Kildeer   

"       Lesser  yellow-legs. 

"       Marsh   

"       Ox-eye 

"       Pale  ring-necked  .  . 

"       Piping     

"       Ring    

Rini^-necked    

"       Rock    

"       Semipalmated    .  .  .  . 

"       Snowy  

"       Swiss     

Upland     125, 

"       Wilson's    

"       Yellow-leg    

Pond  Shelldrake    

Porzana  Carolina 

"         jamaicensis 

"         noveboracensis    .  . 

Prairie  Chicken   ....9,  10, 

Hen 

"        Pigeon  

Ptarmigan  

Purple  Gallinule 

"       Sandpiper    


14 

388 

88 

223 

70 

89 

70 

70 

70 

,  78 

201 

177 

83 

,186 

160 

70 

88 

88 

83 

85 

94 

85 

86 

70 

201 

90 

177 

404 

231 

239 

237 

14 

11 

201 

51 

241 

163 


Q. 


Quail 


4,  57 

flight  of 57,  66,  67 

forage    for 59 

liberation   of 58 

nest   of 60 

retention    of    scent 

by    67 

Querquedula    discors 304 


430 


INDEX 


E. 

Raft    Duck 339 

Rails    180 

Rail,    Black    239 

"         Carolina     231 

Clapper    227 

"        King     223 

Sora    231 

Virginia     229 

Yellow    237 

Rallus  crepitans    227 

"         elegans     223 

"        virginianus    229 

Recurvirostra    americana. .    97 

Red-backed   Sandpiper    .  .  .  166 

"    -breasted    Merganser .  .408 

"  "  Sandpiper    .170 

Snipe    145 

Teal    301 

Red-head  Duck,  279,  326,  333 

Red  Phalarope 101 

"    -necked   Phalarope. . . . 102 

Reeve    199 

Ring-necked    Duck 340 

Ring-necks.  .85,    88,    168,  169 

"  Pale    88 

River  ducks 294,  297,  314 

Robin  Snipe 170 

Rock  Plover 94 

Rockweed    Bird 163 

Rocky  Mountain  Garrot..351 

Ruddy  Duck 315,  418 

"  "     nest   of 418 

Ruff    199 

Ruffed    Grouse    1, 

2,   3,  4,   5,  6,  8,   11,   12, 
16,    53,    68,    121,    128,  129 
Ruffed   Grouse,   burrowing 

21,  22,  23 
"  "         defense  of 

young    26,  27 

Ruffed   Grouse,   drumming 

23,  24,  25 
flight      of 

30-33 
"  "         nest   of  .  .   25 

"  "         towering.   44 

"         treeing   .  . 

33,  34,  35 


S. 

Sabine's  Grouse    17,  18 

Sale  of  game 127 

Salt  Water  Teal 421 

Sanderling    168 

Sandpipers    170 

Band's    151 

Bartram's     201 

Black-bellied    ..166 

"  Bonaparte's    ...158 

Buff-breasted   ..214 

Least     153 

Pectoral    159 

Purple     163 

Red-backed   ....  166 
"  "  -breasted     .  .170 

"  Semipalmated .  .  153 

Solitary    188 

Spotted     193 

Stilt     149 

"  White-rumped .  .  153 

Sawbills     405 

Scaup     339 

"       Duck   334,  340 

Scooters   397 

Scoter,  American 390 

"        Patch-head    404 

"        White-winged   400 

Sea  Duck 369,  371,  387 

"     King  387 

"  Geese    103 

Semipalmated  Plover   .... 

85,  88,  89 
"  Sandpiper.  .153 

Shelldrakes   378,  404,  420 

Shelldrake,  Hooded 415 

Pond    404 

"  Red-breasted.  ,408 

Short-necked    Geese 269 

Shoveller  Duck    308 

Shufflers     339 

Sickle-billed  Curlew,  215,  219 

Skunk-head  Coot 403 

Smew    405 

Snipe 125,    130,    181,  183 

"     American     130 

"     drumming  of    132 

"     English    130 

"     Fall    167 


INDEX 


431 


Snipe,  flight  of 136,  137 

"     Grass    100 

"     Jack   100 

"     Meadow    100 

"     nest   of    132 

"     Robin   170 

"     Wilson's     130 

Snow  Goose,  Greater   ....248 

"  "        Lesser    250 

«  "        Ross'   250 

Snowy  Plover 86 

Solitary  Sandpiper   188 

"  "        nesting.  192 

Somateria  dresseri    371 

"  mollissima  ....386 

"  spectabilis   ....  387 

Sora  Rail 230,  231 

Spaniel    233,  234 

Spatula  elypeata 308 

Speckle-bellies    251 

Spine-tail 421 

Spirit  Duck    354 

Spoonbill  Duck    308 

Spotted  Sandpiper.  ..189,  193 
"  "        nest   . . .195 

"  "        young. . 

195,  196 

Sprigtail    312 

Spring  shooting,  stopping. 

127,  398 

Spruce   Grouse    1,  56 

"  "     nest   of . . .3,     4 

"  "     strutting.  .  .      7 

"      Partridge 1 

Squatarola  squatarola    ...    70 

Squaw,  Old   357 

Steganopus  tricolor    105 

Stiff-tail    421 

Stilt 99,   100 

"    Sandpiper    149 

Summer    183,  198 

Duck    318 

Yellow-legs..  184,  185 
180,   190 

Surf  Duck    380 

Swamp  Partridge    1 

Swiss  Plover 70 

Symphemia   semipalmata,. 

172,  175,  176 


Tattler    177,  183 

Teal   144,  315 

"    Blue-winged    304 

"    Cinnamon     301,  306 

"    European  ..301,  302,  303 

"    Gray     421 

"    Green-winged    300 

"    Red-breasted     301 

"    Salt  Water 421 

Teeter- Bob     198 

"     -Tail    198 

Tell-Tale    177 

Texan  Black  Duck 288 

Timberdoodle....47,   121,  123 

Tip-up    198 

Togata   20 

Totanus   177 

"       flavipes    186 

"       melanoleucus    ....  17  / 

Tringa  canutus    170 

Tryngites  subruticollis. .  .  .214 

Turnstone 94,  95 

Tympanuchus  cupido    ....      9 

U. 

Upland  Plover 121, 

151,  173,  201,  214,  218,  222 

V. 

Velvet  Duck   400 

Virginia  Rail 

226,  228,  229,  237 

W. 
Whistler,     125,    341,    352, 

354,  355,  419 

nest  of 343 

"        Rocky  Mountain. 351 
Whistling  Field  Plover..      70 

White-billed  Mud  Hen 245 

"     -fronted  Goose 251 

"      -rumped    Sandpiper. 

152,  153 

"      -wing    400 

White-winged  Coot   

397,  399,  400 
Widgeon 295,  315 


432 


INDEX 


.Widgeon  nest    296 

"        European 300 

Wild  celery   296,  332 

Willet   175,  176 

Willow  Grouse 51 

"       dwarf    52 

Wilson's  Phalarope.  .104,  105 

Wilson's  Plover    86,  90 

"     nest  of   .  .  .   90 

Wilson's  Snipe 

130,  145,  146,  160,  183,  187 
Wilson's  Snipe,  drumming 

of    131 

Winter    189,  208 

"      Yellow-leg   ...117,  190 
Woodcock,   32,  49,  66,   68, 

108,  134 


Woodcock,  love-making  of .  . 

109,   110 

nest  of 108,  109 

"         song  of    110 

"         perching  habit .  . 

124,  125 

Woodcocking    48 

Wood  Duck,  125,  314,  318, 

388,  415 
"  "     nesting  of .  . .  . 

321,  322 


Yellow-legs,  Greater  . .  144, 

171, 177, 197 
"      Lesser  ..186,  197 

"      -shanks    176 

Yellow  Rail    237 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

Los  Angeles 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


UC  SOUTHt  KN  Kf  GIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 


AA    000  651  008    5 


